TV broadcaster Narinder Kaur has been targeted by vicious trolls who edited an image to give the impression she was close with Jeffrey Epstein.
A picture of the 53-year-old, known for her appearances on Jeremy Vine and Good Morning Britain, has been superimposed onto an image of the paedophile that was shared by an anonymous user on X.
The fake picture, posted on Wednesday, appears to show Epstein dressed in a black polo shirt with his arm around the neck of Ms Kaur as she pouts into the camera.
In reality, the photograph shows the sex offender hugging Belarusian woman Karyna Shuliak, thought to be Epstein's last known girlfriend.
The image appears to have been manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) in order to give the impression that Ms Kaur knew Epstein.
In reality, Ms Kaur has never met Mr Epstein - but told the Daily Mail today her situation was endemic of the widespread use of manipulated and fake images online.
She told the Daily Mail today: 'I have never met, or had any dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. The fact I even have to say that out loud shows how dangerous and surreal this kind of AI abuse has become.
'It's exhausting having to constantly defend yourself against things that never happened. There is a real emotional toll to waking up and seeing your face placed into vile, fabricated scenarios.'
A fake image of the TV presenter Narinder Kaur with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has been circulated on social media.
The real photograph shows Epstein hugging Karyna Shuliak, Epstein's last known girlfriend, at an event in New York in 2014.
Ms Kaur has hit out at the trolls responsible - and told the Daily Mail she won't be silenced by those seeking to spread misinformation.
Ms Kaur says she has been targeted because of the colour of her skin and for being outspoken on social media.
'I'm being targeted by trolls who know exactly what they're doing, they're trying to humiliate me, discredit me and attach my name to something so grotesque that people stop and wonder if it could be true,' she added.
'This is the new form of online abuse. You don't need a real photo or a real event anymore. AI can invent it for you and within minutes people are questioning your reality.
'I think I'm targeted because I speak out. I'm a woman of colour, I'm opinionated and I don't stay quiet. That combination seems to make me a magnet for this kind of hate.'
It is not known whether the photograph was edited using artificial intelligence (AI) or image manipulation software such as Adobe Photoshop.
However, it appears to bear artifacts that suggest the use of AI, including that a chain necklace around the presenter's neck disappears into thin air, oddly shaped earrings and a lack of a shadow cast by Ms Kaur in front of Epstein's face.
The fake image appears to have taken inspiration from images of Ms Kaur at a film premiere at the Tate Modern in March 2024, in which she wore a black dress and jewellery that looks similar to that in the fake photo.
The account that first posted the image appears to be based in the Netherlands, according to data provided by X.
However, the social network notes that the account's location may have been falsified using a virtual private network (VPN), which allows a user to change where in the world they appear to be logging on.
Sharing false information online with the intent to cause 'non-trivial psychological or physical harm' is an offence under the Online Safety Act.
Anyone convicted of the new offence can be jailed for up to 51 weeks and fined.
The AI generated image appears to have taken inspiration from this real photograph of Ms Kaur at a film premier in 2024, particularly her chain necklace and earrings.
However, the fake image bears hallmarks of AI generation, including a lack of a shadow, the oddly shaped earrings and a necklace that disappears into thin air.
The Mail understands that a report on the original post been made to a police force in England, which has now been passed to the Metropolitan Police.
However, it has been shared on other accounts since it was first published and seen thousands of times.
'To the people doing this, or seeing these types of images and think it's okay, you may think it's a joke or "just the internet"... this is harassment, it's degrading and it causes real harm,' Ms Kaur added.
'What worries me most is that if this is happening to me, a 53-year-old with a platform, what is happening to teenagers, young women or even other older women who don't have the same voice or support?'
'I won't be bullied into silence by people hiding behind fake images and fake accounts.'