Not long ago, I was scrolling and came across a video of Ice Cube supposedly commenting on the Diddy trial.

It looked legit.
It sounded real.
And for a split second… I believed it.

But it wasn’t real. It was a deepfake — AI-generated, edited to sound like him, look like him, and spread a false narrative.

And here’s what shook me the most:
Most people didn’t question it. They just reposted it, commented like it was gospel, and kept it moving.

That’s where we are now — in a world where technology has blurred the lines between fact and fiction.

And storytelling, something that’s supposed to connect us, is being used to confuse us.

The New Face of Misinformation

Deepfakes aren’t new, but their quality has skyrocketed. With the rise of AI tools, it’s now easier than ever to create convincing videos of people saying or doing things they never said or did.

This isn’t just a celebrity problem.
It’s a culture problem.
It’s a reader and writer problem.
And it’s a trust problem.

What This Means for Creatives and Readers

Storytelling has always been sacred. It’s how we’ve passed down truth, preserved history, and made people feel seen. But now?

Now we have to fight for that truth.

Here’s what we can do:

✅ Check the source.
If it feels off, it probably is. Google it. Verify it.

✅ Be mindful of what you share.
Don’t let your repost contribute to the problem.

✅ Writers: Create with intention.
Your real voice is more important than ever. Don’t let algorithms or AI trends dilute it.

✅ Readers: Choose stories that offer depth.
Support books written by real people, with real voices and lived experiences.

Why This Hits Home for Me

When I wrote Weight For It and You Sound White, I didn’t write them to go viral. I wrote them to be honest. To reflect something deeper.

Real pain. Real joy. Real voice.

Because I believe stories should stir something in you — not trick you.

We’re not here to chase clicks.
We’re here to build something real.

Want to Stay Rooted in Truth?

📚 Browse my books at BrightHeadedPublishing.com
🎙️ Be a guest or pitch your story to Author’s Mic
✨ Join the Indie Reader Society for real conversations & bold books.
📦 Order signed copies + get free shipping through my Linktree 

Let’s reclaim storytelling — one truth at a time.