Singapore Magazine Sparks Controversy Over AI-Generated Actor Interview

Esquire Singapore has faced significant public backlash after using artificial intelligence to fabricate an interview with actor Mackenyu for its March 2026 issue. The publication used AI tools to generate responses to interview questions after the actor, known for his role as Roronoa Zoro in the Netflix live-action adaptation of One Piece, failed to respond to emails in time for the magazine’s publication deadline.

According to reporting from The Straits Times on April 12, 2026, the editorial team at Esquire Singapore had successfully coordinated a cover photo shoot with the Japanese-American actor. However, when the actor was unable to provide written responses to the accompanying interview questions, the magazine opted to use AI to fill the gap.

The magazine’s editorial staff uploaded previous interviews conducted with Mackenyu into the AI tools Claude and Copilot. These tools were then used to generate fresh responses to new questions, which were subsequently published as part of the cover story.

Ethical Concerns and Public Backlash

The decision to publish AI-generated content presented as a celebrity interview drew swift criticism. Critics described the practice as lazy and unethical journalism, questioning the ethics of publishing fabricated content based on a subject’s past statements without their direct involvement or consent.

The controversy intensified over specific AI-generated comments regarding Mackenyu’s relationship with his late father. Following the backlash, those specific sections of the piece were removed from the publication.

Editorial Justification and the ‘Echoes’ Theme

In a response provided to CNA Lifestyle, Esquire Singapore defended the move as a deliberate creative decision. The publication stated that the use of AI was intended to align with the specific theme of the March issue, titled Echoes.

The use of AI was a deliberate creative decision intended to reflect this theme; exploring the ‘echo’ of a persona in the digital age in the absence of the physical subject. We were transparent about this experimental approach as our goal was to explore the intersectionality of celebrity and tech within the Echoes context.

Esquire Singapore via CNA Lifestyle

The magazine further explained that the pivot to an AI-generated approach occurred after several unsuccessful attempts to secure responses from the actor, whose demanding schedule had limited his participation to the photo shoot only.

Esquire Singapore indicated that it had noted the public feedback to inform its future editorial decisions.

This incident has highlighted ongoing industry debates regarding the boundaries of AI application in entertainment journalism, particularly when synthesizing a celebrity’s persona and personal history through generative tools.