Emmerdale and Coronation Street have been forced to reissue their joint statement after the ITV soaps and their stars were targeted by fake posts online. The warning was first shared in June, when the teams behind Corrie, filmed in Salford, and Leeds-based Emmerdale told fans that AI-generated Facebook pages were posting "fake news" about the programmes and their actors.
Lisa Riley hits out at fake pregnancy posts
The statement has now been shared again after Emmerdale star Lisa Riley, who is from Bury, spoke out about posts on Facebook suggesting she was pregnant. The 50-year-old, who plays Mandy Dingle, shared the fake photographs on Instagram, including one of her holding an infant and an edited image showing her displaying a sonogram.
Alongside a number of angry emojis, Riley wrote: "THIS HAS TO STOP!!!!! It’s absolutely horrendous!!!"
Joint warning reshared
After Lisa spoke out, Emmerdale reshared the post it first put out a couple of months ago. The post, which also features Corrie's logo, read: "It has been brought to our attention that a lot of AI-generated Facebook pages are posting fake news about Emmerdale and Coronation Street actors and the programmes in general."
It continued: "Some of these posts are extremely hurtful and damaging to reputations. Please only follow genuine news outlets and feel free to report those you think are fake via the usual methods."
Fans show support
Comments were turned off on the post, but fans rushed to show Lisa, who has previously opened up about her journey with IVF and how she came to the conclusion that becoming a mother wasn’t ‘meant to be’, their support. @rantsandbigpants said: "So wrong on so many levels. Truly hope you’re ok." @lizhussell commented: "So sorry that this is happening to you. There are some vile people about! Hope you are ok Lisa." @grainnemalone wrote: "Honestly disgraceful how people get away with this!! It’s wrong on so many levels!! Hope your okay Lisa." @beautielady added: "I feel you ... This is horrible and upsetting. Lisa - be strong and I hope you are okay. Sending my love to you!"
