Schumacher's family 'are set to SUE' German outlet over fake interview
Michael Schumacher’s family plan legal action against German gossip magazine for publishing an ‘exclusive’ interview with the stricken Formula One legend… which was produced using AI software
- Michael Schumacher’s family are reportedly planning to sue a German outlet
- Die Aktuelle ran an ‘exclusive’ story claiming to feature quotes from the F1 icon
- But the publication used an AI chatbot to generate the story, leading to criticism
Michael Schumacher’s family are reportedly planning legal action against a German magazine who promoted an ‘exclusive interview’ with the F1 legend – before revealing they had generated quotes using artificial intelligence (AI).
Die Aktuelle have come under fire for running the front page with Schumacher’s face on it, claiming it was ‘the first interview’ he had given since a skiing accident in December 2013 left him in a medically induced coma. He hasn’t appeared publicly ever since.
The former Formula One driver – who won seven world championships – is cared for by a team of medical staff, and his wife Corinna, at their Lake Geneva home.
Little has been made public about his condition and so news that the stricken driver had conducted an exclusive interview quickly turned heads.
The Schumacher family are very protective of his privacy and confirmed to Reuters on Thursday they were now planning legal action.
Michael Schumacher’s family are planning to take legal action against a magazine who promoted an ‘exclusive interview with the stricken F1 legend. Pictured: Mick Schumacher (left), with his mother Corinna (right) and sister Gina-Maria (middle)
German mag Die Aktuelle promoted the interview’ on their front page with Michael Schumacher
Schumacher (pictured in 2005) hasn’t been in public since a skiing accident in 2013
WHAT SCHUMACHER ‘SAID’ IN INTERVIEW
My life has changed completely since [the accident]. That was a horrible time for my wife, my children and the whole family.
I was so badly injured that I lay for months in a kind of artificial coma because otherwise, my body couldn’t have dealt with it all.
Much better than years ago. With the help of my team, I can even stand on my own again and even walk a few steps slowly.
My family and children have been a blessing to me and without them, I would not have been in business.
Of course, they are very sad about how everything went, but unfortunately, that’s life and I just have to endure the fact that things sometimes go badly.
They support me and stand fast at my side.
The front page offered a sub-heading that read ‘it sounds deceptively real’, which immediately lead to question marks over the interview.
The article opens: ‘Talk to him once. Ask him how he’s really doing. And finally got answers almost 10 years after his tragic skiing accident.
‘No meagre, nebulous half-sentences from friends. But answers from him! By Michael Schumacher, 54!
‘Here it is — the incredible interview! With redeeming answers to the most burning questions that the whole world has been asking for so long.’
The article, which does not feature a byline, continues before ending with an admission that the quotes are in fact fake and they have not spoken to Schumacher or anyone in the family.
‘Did Michael Schumacher really say everything himself? The interview was online. On a page that has to do with artificial intelligence, or AI for short,’ the now widely derided piece concludes.
Immediately F1 fans condemned the magazine for its ‘lack of decency’ and the ‘shame’ in purpoting to have spoken to Schumacher.
German media expert Boris Rosenkranz wrote a comment piece labelling the stunt ‘Too stupid to be true’.
It is the same magazine that Corinna Schumacher attempted to claim a €50,000 (£42,300) payout from in 2015, before losing the court battle.
In 2015 the magazine used a picture of Corinna on the front cover with the headline: ‘Corinna Schumacher – a new love makes her happy.’
The story was actually about her daughter, Gina Maria, and the family lawyer, Felix Damm, filed a lawsuit claiming the front page was misleading. It was eventually dismissed.
A year prior the magazine had a photo of Michael and Corinna on the front cover with the headline ‘Awake’ – which drew widespread criticism.
They would eventually detail that the quotes had been generated by Artificial Intelligence
Schumacher’s family have battled to keep the former racer’s condition shrouded in secracy
Schumacher’s wife Corinna (pictured together skiing in 2005) has kept his condition private
The headline had no relation to Schumacher but was instead on the subject of other individuals who had woken up from a coma. Nonetheless it was condemned as being tasteless.
Last month, Eddie Jordan claimed Schumacher’s wife Corinna has lived ‘like a prisoner’ to keep his condition secret.
Jordan revealed last year that his plans to visit Schumacher had been vetoed by the family.
Corinna has shunned speaking publicly about her husband but did shed some light on her struggles in a documentary on his life which aired in 2022.
‘Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find,’ Corinna said previously.
‘We’re together. We live together at home. We do therapy. We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he’s comfortable. And to simply make him feel our family, our bond.
‘And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will. We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. And we are getting on with our lives.
In a rare interview for a documentary on Michael’s life, Corinna opened up on her situation
In 2014 the magazine was criticised for having the headline ‘Awake’ over a picture of Schumacher and wife Corinna. It transpired the headline was nothing to do with Schumacher and was instead about other people who had woken up from a coma
‘”Private is private”, as he always said. It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible.
‘Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael.’
Schumacher is one of the most successful F1 drivers of all time, having claimed seven world titles – 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.
He also added 71 fastest laps and 155 podiums to his name during his iconic racing career.
His son Mick is now a reserve driver for Mercedes, having been let go from Haas F1 last summer.
Eddie Jordan (right) claims Schumacher’s wife Corinna (left) lives ‘like a prisoner’ as she tries to keep the condition of her husband private following a skiing accident in 2013
In 2019 the Schumacher family released an update on his 50th birthday assuring his millions of fans they are doing ‘everything humanly possible’ to help him recover.
In 2020 it was claimed he was set to undergo stem cell surgery – only for it to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In September last year Zurich-based neurology specialist Professor Erich Riederer told a documentary for French TV channel TMC he doubted the racing legend would ever fully recover.
He said: ‘I think he’s in a vegetative state, which means he’s awake but not responding. He is breathing, his heart is beating, he can probably sit up and take baby steps with help, but no more.’
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