Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos has publicly denied reports that he converted to Islam [1, 2].
The denial comes after a surge of viral misinformation and AI-generated imagery circulated online. The reports often suggested the 53-year-old [4] changed his faith after marrying a Moroccan wife [2, 3].
Carlos addressed the rumors to correct the false narrative spreading across social media platforms. He said that while he holds a high regard for the faith, the claims of his conversion are untrue [1, 2].
"I have the utmost respect for Islam, but I have not converted," Carlos said [1].
The confusion was amplified by reports from various media outlets. Some Turkish media reports and outlets such as TBS News indicated that the former defender had embraced the religion [3]. Other reports surfaced via MSN India, sparking widespread discussion among football fans and the public [4].
Carlos said that the spread of these claims was fueled by deceptive digital content. The use of AI-generated images contributed to the perception that the conversion had occurred [2].
Despite the persistence of the rumors, Carlos maintains his original faith while expressing his continued respect for the Islamic religion [1].
“"I have the utmost respect for Islam, but I have not converted."”
This incident highlights the growing challenge of AI-generated misinformation targeting public figures. By blending personal life details—such as Carlos' marriage—with fabricated visual evidence, the rumors gained enough traction to be reported by secondary news outlets before the subject could provide a correction.
