Phil Foden takes legal action against online hoaxes
England footballer Phil Foden has taken legal action after a series of vile online hoaxes falsely claimed one of his children had died and another was battling cancer, reports BritPanorama.
The Manchester City midfielder, 25, has instructed a team of lawyers to remove fabricated posts and AI-generated images circulating across social media, as he and his fiancée Rebecca Cooke battle to protect their family from the false claims.
The couple, who share three young children — Ronnie, six, True, four, and baby Phil Jr — have been the target of a disturbing wave of online trolling in recent weeks. The fake stories began on Facebook, where users shared false reports that their eldest son, Ronnie, had died.
Shortly thereafter, a post from an account calling itself Man City Fan Lover fabricated a false “confession” from Foden claiming that his daughter True had cancer. Many of these fake posts, accompanied by AI-generated images showing Foden and Cooke appearing to cry, quickly spread online, causing the footballer’s name to trend across multiple social media platforms and search engines.
Cooke, 24, broke her silence in an emotional Instagram statement, describing the lies as “sickening” and calling on supporters to help report the offending pages. “We are aware of the pages and accounts spreading these stories. They are completely false and very disturbing. I don’t understand how people can make up these things about anyone, especially children. It’s sickening,” she wrote.
Cooke further stated, “We are all absolutely fine, thank God, and thank you for all your concerns. We are doing everything we can to stop them. Please report any posts or pages you come across sharing these false stories.”
According to reports, Foden’s legal team has launched a coordinated effort to have the fake content removed, contacting several social media companies and search platforms to demand takedowns. A source close to Foden described the situation as “beyond disgusting,” emphasizing that the couple had been “deeply distressed” by the hoaxes, which appear designed to attract clicks and engagement through fabricated tragedy.
This incident adds to a growing number of false stories spread about high-profile athletes and their families through AI-generated content and malicious posts. Cybersecurity experts have warned that the rise of realistic synthetic media has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish genuine news from fabricated material.
Foden, who has been with Cooke since their teenage years and is regarded as one of England’s most talented players, is known for largely keeping his private life out of the spotlight. The couple are determined to ensure that those responsible for spreading the lies are held accountable, and lawyers are examining whether the creators of the false posts could face civil action for defamation and harassment.
For now, they are urging fans to remain vigilant and to avoid engaging with misleading content. The family has expressed gratitude to supporters who have sent messages of concern, reiterating that their children are healthy and happy. Foden is expected to feature when Manchester City faces Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday, following his role in their 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Swansea City.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the darker side of social media, where the line between truth and deceit can blur alarmingly easily.
