Esther Rantzen's Daughter Debunks Fake AI Photos Claiming Coma

Dame Esther Rantzen, the founder of Childline and former host of That's Life!, is privately battling terminal lung cancer, and her family has been forced to confront the spread of fake AI-generated images online falsely depicting her in critical condition or deceased. Her daughter, broadcaster Becca Wilcox, appeared on BBC One's Morning Live to denounce the "repulsive," "abhorrent," and "appalling" nature of these fabricated photos and misinformation, emphasizing that her mother is not in a coma or hospital bed but instead celebrated her 85th birthday with family, enjoying simple pleasures like eating pavlova. Becca expressed distress over the impact of these fake images on the family, including concerns about her grandchildren seeing the false portrayals. The family has guarded Esther's privacy carefully, with very few public appearances or shared details about her treatment, desiring to keep her cancer journey within the family. Becca also used the platform to educate viewers on identifying fake news and AI-generated images, highlighting the emotional toll such online trolling takes. The genuine photos released show Dame Esther smiling and enjoying time in her garden, contrasting starkly with the fabricated distressing images circulating online.