Mario Lopez sparks backlash after posting AI video featuring his niece inappropriately

Mario Lopez has found himself at the centre of online controversy after sharing an artificial intelligence generated video featuring his niece, Kalia Wong, during a visit to a Los Angeles Dodgers game. The clip quickly spread across social media, with many viewers describing it as unsettling and questioning why the television presenter chose to post it.

The video appeared on Lopez's X account on August 3 and was also shared through his Instagram Stories. In the altered clip, Wong appears to be eating two hot dogs while mustard and relish spill over her Dodgers jersey before she smears the condiments across her face. Lopez can be heard saying, "I cannot take her anywhere," before reacting with surprise as the exaggerated sequence continues.

The clip was soon labelled on X with a Community Note indicating that readers identified it as AI generated. The notice fuelled discussion about the growing use of artificial intelligence in entertainment content and whether viewers had initially realised the footage had been digitally created.

Lopez accompanied the post with the caption, "I can't take my niece anywhere!" He also shared the same message on Instagram Stories, writing, "My niece is out of control!"

The reaction online was swift, with many social media users expressing confusion and criticism. Several prominent personalities also weighed in. Barstool Sports personality Dan Katz questioned the post directly, while fellow Barstool contributor Jeff D Lowe described it as one of the strangest posts he had seen. Journalist Yashar Ali also criticised the clip, calling it "creepy" because it used AI to depict Lopez's niece in a fabricated scenario.

Some users speculated that Lopez's account may have been compromised because the post seemed out of character. However, there has been no indication that his account was hacked, and Lopez has not publicly addressed the criticism or explained why the AI generated video was shared.

The backlash stood in contrast to the genuine content Lopez posted throughout the day from Dodger Stadium. Before the controversial upload, he shared real videos showing himself and Wong arriving at the ballpark together.

In one Instagram Story, Lopez described the outing as a family day, while Wong enthusiastically said she was excited for the game. Lopez also recorded a separate video discussing the Dodgers' blockbuster trade for pitcher Tarik Skubal, expressing optimism about the club's chances during the remainder of the season.

He captioned another authentic post from the stadium by celebrating the combination of sunshine, baseball and family while encouraging support for the Dodgers' postseason ambitions.

The game itself ultimately ended in disappointment for Los Angeles, as the Boston Red Sox completed a three game sweep of the defending World Series champions with an 8 to 4 victory.

For now, Mario Lopez has remained silent about the controversy.