The family of former Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher have reportedly decided to launch a lawsuit against a German magazine.
The publication, Die Aktuelle, left the motorsport legend’s fans fuming this week after it promoted an “exclusive interview” with the star.
The magazine has been accused of crossing the line after claiming its article was Schumacher’s first interview since his horror ski crash in 2013.
The magazine, dated April 15, 2023, featured a smiling Schumacher on the cover, reports The Sun.
It was later revealed that the disturbing “interview” was fake: the former driver’s supposed quotes were made through an artificial intelligence program.
According to ESPN, a Schumacher family spokesperson has confirmed legal action is about to be taken.
The legend’s fans slammed the despicable front cover and branded it “tasteless” and “stupid”.
Following his horrific ski accident in 2013, the 54-year-old has been in a medically induced coma – and little has been known about his condition ever since.
The seven-time-world champion remains at his home in Geneva, Switzerland.
Schumacher’s wife Corinna – dubbed his “guardian angel” – has overseen the effort to ensure his wish for privacy is respected and is understood to have imposed a “family only” rule on visits.
The article, titled My life has completely changed, detailed “Schumacher’s” feelings about the accident, his children and his future.
The front cover headline read “World sensation” while text below it said, “It sounds deceptively real”.
The supposed quotes by Schumacher read: “My life has completely changed since [the accident]. That was a horrible time for my wife, my children and the whole family.
“I was so badly injured that I lay for months in a kind of artificial coma, because otherwise my body couldn’t have dealt with it all.
“I’ve had a tough time but the hospital team has managed to bring me back to my family.”
The article concludes by saying the interview is in fact the result of an AI chatbot called Character.ai and the magazine has not spoken to Schumacher or anyone from his family.
“The interview was on the internet. On a page that has to do with artificial intelligence or AI for short.”
Astonishingly, it’s not the first time Die Aktuelle has pulled a Schumacher stunt.
In 2014, it ran a cover featuring Schumacher prominently with the word “Awake” on the cover.
But when people bought the magazine they found stories of people who had recovered from comas – but nothing on Schumacher’s condition.
Too stupid to be true’
Media expert Boris Rosenkranz, who first highlighted the deeply problematic article, wrote a comment piece about the twisted stunt and described it as “too stupid to be true”.
One of the greatest drivers of all time, the F1 ace won five times for Ferrari and twice for Benetton.
He raced from 1991 to 2006, and again from 2010 to 2012, winning 91 races.
Schumacher was left in a medically induced coma after his accident while skiing off-piste on December 29, 2013 – spending three months in hospital before being released home.
He reportedly suffered a traumatic injury to his brain – but little is known about his health.
The lack of official updates has sparked rumours and conflicting reports from “insiders” over the years.
Some have claimed he was in a vegetative state, while others claimed he was awake and able to talk.
But the star’s close circle remain tight-lipped about his condition.
Corinna Schumacher rarely speaks about her husband – she did so most recently on the Netflix documentary Schumacher.
I miss Michael every day. But it’s not just me who misses him,” she said.
“It’s the children, the family, his father, everyone around him.
“I mean, everybody misses Michael, but Michael is here. Different, but he’s here and that gives us strength, I find.”
