Jeremy Clarkson has spoken out angrily after a series of highly convincing AI-generated posts spread false claims about the wellbeing of people close to him, including a senior figure from Clarkson’s Farm, describing the hoax as disturbing and unacceptable.
The former Top Gear presenter said he was left “disgusted” after discovering that fabricated stories had circulated widely on Facebook, many of them accompanied by lifelike images designed to appear authentic. Among the most serious claims was a post alleging that Gerald Cooper, the farm’s head of security and a popular figure on Clarkson’s Farm, was no longer alive following a supposed illness.
None of the claims were true. Other invented stories suggested that Clarkson’s long-term partner Lisa Hogan had left him, that Clarkson himself had suffered a serious injury, and that Kaleb Cooper had welcomed another child. All were presented with realistic photographs, giving the posts an air of credibility that alarmed fans.
Writing in his weekly column for The Sun, the 65-year-old broadcaster explained how quickly the misinformation had spread. He said that, from his own farm alone, multiple fabricated stories had appeared within days, each one polished enough to mislead casual readers.
“All of the stories were accompanied by a completely realistic photograph,” Clarkson wrote. “And all of them were complete nonsense.”
While Clarkson acknowledged that public figures are often targeted online, he said this case crossed a line because it involved people who are not accustomed to intense public scrutiny. He stressed that Gerald Cooper, in particular, found the situation upsetting, especially because of the risk that his children could encounter the false claims online.
“Do I mind? Yes,” Clarkson added. “Mostly because Gerald is unused to being in the public eye, and it worries him that his kids see this kind of thing online. So whoever’s doing it, pack it in.”
Gerald’s health has previously been discussed openly on the show. During the third series of Clarkson’s Farm on Prime Video, viewers saw an emotional storyline in which Clarkson reacted to Gerald receiving a serious medical diagnosis. At the time, Clarkson was filmed expressing concern and confusion over how the news had been delivered, explaining that Gerald had been deeply frightened by what he was told.
In a later update, Gerald confirmed that his treatment for prostate cancer had been successful and that he had been given the all-clear in 2024. He thanked viewers for their support and said he was relieved and optimistic about the future.
Clarkson’s comments come amid growing concern over the misuse of artificial intelligence to generate false but convincing content involving real people. The incident has renewed calls for greater awareness of AI-driven misinformation, particularly when it targets individuals who have not chosen a life in the public eye.
