William Shatner Addresses Fake News Claims of Brain Cancer, Fight With Erika Kirk

The 95-year-old actor shut down the false reports, warning of the dangers of AI-generated misinformation.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:22am

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An extreme close-up of a cracked, glittering disco ball reflecting a faint red light, creating an abstract, high-contrast image that conceptually represents the deception and fragility of celebrity culture and social media.A shattered celebrity facade reflects the dangers of AI-generated misinformation and the fragility of public trust.Thurston Today

William Shatner has spoken out against false claims circulating on social media that he is battling Stage IV brain cancer and is in a fight with Erika Kirk. The 95-year-old Star Trek actor took to his verified social media accounts to debunk the rumors, explaining that an AI-powered Facebook page called 'The Beanstalk Functions Group' has been creating and monetizing these fabricated stories using fake images of Shatner. Shatner warned his fans to be wary of any bizarre news stories about him unless they are posted on his official accounts.

Why it matters

The spread of AI-generated misinformation and fake news stories about celebrities' health and personal lives raises concerns about the ability to control the spread of false narratives online. Shatner's case highlights the challenges public figures face in combating these types of AI-powered hoaxes, which can quickly gain traction and cause real distress for the individuals targeted.

The details

In his posts, Shatner explained that the Facebook page had created stories claiming he had Stage IV brain cancer and was in a fight with Erika Kirk, all while monetizing the false content. He said he had reported the page to Facebook, but the platform refused to remove it. Shatner shared a photo of himself looking healthy to prove the stories were untrue, and warned his fans to be skeptical of any unverified news about him.

  • On Thursday, April 2, 2026, Shatner addressed the false claims via his social media accounts.
  • Shatner said he waited until April Fools' Day was over to set the record straight, to avoid the possibility of the post being mistaken for a joke.

The players

William Shatner

A 95-year-old actor best known for his role as Captain James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek television series.

The Beanstalk Functions Group

A Facebook page that has been using AI to create and monetize false stories about Shatner, including claims that he has Stage IV brain cancer and is in a fight with Erika Kirk.

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What they’re saying

“There is a page on @facebook that is using AI to create horrible fake news stories about me. They have created stories that say I have stage 4 brain cancer, was in some kind of fight with Erika Kirk and that I'm dying. All their stories are monetized. Most of the stories use an AI image of me. Facebook Support will not remove the page.”

— William Shatner, Actor

“While [it] can be a wonderful tool in the right hands; it can be used as a weapon in the wrong hands. If you see a bizarre story about me; unless you see it posted on one of my verified accounts, take it with a grain of salt.”

— William Shatner, Actor

What’s next

Shatner has reported the Facebook page to the platform's support team, but they have so far refused to remove it. He plans to continue trying to get the page taken down and warn his fans about the dangers of AI-generated misinformation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing threat of AI-powered fake news and the challenges public figures face in combating the spread of false narratives online. Shatner's experience underscores the need for stronger content moderation policies and tools to detect and remove AI-generated misinformation before it can gain traction and cause real harm.