Scottish comedy legend Sir Billy Connolly has issued a warning to fans after learning that scammers are using artificial intelligence to impersonate him online.
The 82-year-old comedian and actor, affectionately known as The Big Yin, said fraudsters had created fake accounts to trick people into believing they were interacting with him directly. His wife, psychologist and writer Pamela Stephenson, has also been targeted.
“Dear friends, I have learned that, unfortunately, online scam artists are targeting my fans and supporters,” Connolly wrote in a message on his official website. “They are impersonating me, often reaching out to fans soliciting direct messaging. They create multiple deceptive social media and email accounts, and there could well be criminal intent.”
Connolly stressed that his official Facebook page and personal website are the only legitimate online platforms linked to him. He does not use Instagram, X, Snapchat, Telegram or any other social media services.
“I never interact directly with fans or supporters, and would never suggest they direct message me, meet me, send me money or purchase goods directly,” he said. “If you are asked for any of the above, it is a scam. My likeness and the sound of my voice can be created by AI… so beware!”
His warning comes amid a rise in online scams using deepfake images and cloned voices of celebrities. Just a few seconds of audio can now be enough for criminals to replicate a person’s voice, and fake adverts featuring public figures were the most reported type of scam flagged to the Advertising Standards Authority in 2024.
Connolly, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, retired from live performances in 2018 but has continued to make television programmes and appearances. Knighted in 2017 for services to entertainment and charity, his career spans acclaimed stand-up shows, film roles including Mrs Brown with Judi Dench and The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise, and voice work in Pixar’s Brave.
Despite his health challenges, the beloved comic has remained active in broadcasting, with recent projects such as Billy Connolly: Made in Scotland (2018), Billy Connolly’s Great American Trail (2019) and Billy Connolly Does…, which began airing in 2022.
Images: Wikimedia Commons
