By JAKE FENNER, US SPORTS WRITER
Published: 14:22 EST, 9 December 2025 | Updated: 14:22 EST, 9 December 2025
Former NBA star Matt Barnes is pushing back on rumors that claimed he was scammed by an AI model.
A rumor circulating around the internet got fresh air from another former NBAer, Gilbert Arenas, who addressed the gossip on his own podcast.
Apparently, as the internet says, Barnes fell victim to a catfish who managed to walk off with $61,000 of his money.
'I've sat back and watched the internet lie about me the whole year,' Barnes said in a video posted to his Instagram account.
'The whole year -- lies from me being gay, to me talking abortion to me telling some girl not to do a reality show.'
'I get back from Dubai ... I see all of a sudden I'm suing an A.I. model, or I got played by an A.I. model.'
Former NBA star Matt Barnes is denying that he was extorted by an AI bot for $61,000
The rumor spread around the internet and was discussed by people like Gilbert Arenas (above)
Barnes denied the rumors saying, 'Y'all can't believe everything you motherf***in hear'
'You guys believe I got played by an A.I. model, and I'm suing 'em? Where the f*** did you guys get this from?!'
The 2017 NBA champion also called out blogs, addressing them as 'bottom of the barrel a** motherf***ers' due to their penchant of spreading lies.
Barnes also called out Arenas, saying he eventually reached out to the former Wizards star to ask why he never checked in with him in the first place.
'I told him, 'After all we've been through, bro, like tap in with me to see if it's real.' He apologized,' Barnes said.
He added in the video, 'Y'all can't believe everything you motherf***in' hear!!'
Barnes opened up about a tough 2025 for him. In addition to the rumors, the 45-year-old revealed in April that his fiancée, Ananasa Sims, broke off their engagement. He was later publicly accused of infidelity by Sims.
Back in 2023, Barnes admitted to paying a woman - a real woman, not AI - who was extorting him so she wouldn't spill secrets of his. Last month, Barnes said he's going through the legal process over that issue.