Anti-Gun Journalist Stages ‘Interview’ With AI Avatar of Murdered Student is the title that now marks a disturbing new chapter in the world of modern media, as former CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta took journalism to a ghoulish extreme by staging a virtual interview with an AI-generated version of a deceased teenager, Joaquin Oliver. The stunt, aired last week, has sparked outrage and disbelief across social and political lines.
Oliver, one of the 17 victims of the 2018 Parkland school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, would have turned 25 this month. Instead of honoring his life with dignity, Acosta and his team staged a conversation with an artificial avatar of the young man—asking pre-planned questions and receiving pre-programmed answers that predictably pushed for gun control legislation.
Avatar Delivers Gun Control Talking Points
In the so-called “interview,” Acosta asked the AI avatar what solutions it would suggest for curbing violence in America. The response was hardly spontaneous or surprising. The avatar answered, “Great question. I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement. We need to create safe spaces for conversations and connections, making sure everyone feels seen and heard. It’s about building a culture of kindness and understanding.”
What was presented as an emotional and human-centered message was, in reality, a highly curated political performance—scripted and coded by developers with an obvious agenda. AI cannot develop original beliefs or emotional perspectives, and it certainly cannot speak for someone who is no longer alive to consent to the conversation.
Yet, Acosta continued with softball questions to the AI about Oliver’s favorite sports teams and pop culture preferences, with the digital replica expressing admiration for Star Wars and calling it an “epic saga” that’s “unforgettable.” Again, all responses were preloaded into the system, manufactured to simulate human expression in a way that misleads viewers into thinking they’re witnessing authentic sentiment.
Public Reaction: Creepy, Unsettling, and Disturbing
It didn’t take long for viewers to flood comment sections and social media with reactions to the so-called “interview.” Many found the entire setup unsettling. Terms like “creepy,” “weird,” and “disturbing” dominated discussions, as even those sympathetic to gun control advocacy questioned the ethics and optics of speaking through the likeness of someone who was tragically murdered.
The digital resurrection of Joaquin Oliver—without his ability to give voice or consent—turns tragedy into a tool. It’s a far cry from objective journalism and closer to political theater. Critics argue that the use of a dead person’s image and voice to advocate for policies, no matter how well-intentioned, crosses a moral line that journalism should never breach.
AI Advocacy Has a History in Gun Control Circles
This isn’t the first time Oliver’s image has been used for gun control messaging. In 2024, an AI-generated voice clone of Joaquin was used to send robocalls to elected officials in an attempt to push legislation. That, too, was met with mixed reactions—some praising the innovation, others disturbed by the manipulation of the dead for political messaging.
In a time when trust in media continues to erode, acts like this do nothing to restore credibility. While the debate around gun laws remains contentious, there’s a universal understanding that respect for the deceased should remain above partisan strategies.
By staging this interview, Acosta and his team may have intended to honor a life lost too soon. Instead, they raised serious ethical questions about consent, truth, and the future of journalism in the age of AI.
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