Tani Laila, the daughter of the internationally acclaimed South Asian music icon Runa Laila, has publicly called on fans to report social media channels spreading malicious, artificial intelligence-generated rumours regarding her mother’s death and failing health. The plea comes in the wake of a wave of fabricated videos and manipulated imagery circulating on digital platforms, which falsely claimed the legendary vocalist was “battling for her life.”
Speaking from the United States where she is currently staying with her family, Tani expressed deep anguish over the deceptive content, confirming that her mother remains in robust health. She condemned online content creators who manufacture sensationalised hoaxes to monetise views, noting the distress such clickbait inflicts on public figures and their families.
“I am truly annoyed and fed up seeing these posts, AI-generated YouTube videos, and fake news being spread just to make a small amount of money,” Tani stated. “I will personally start reporting these types of content, one by one, until these idiots stop this nonsense.”
Reflecting upon her mother’s illustrious career, which spans six decades across South Asian playback singing, classical performances, and pop music, Tani highlighted the sheer disrespect shown to a national treasure.
“My mother has devoted six decades of her life to serving music. Yet people continue to disrespect her in this way even now — what an utter shame and humiliation this is for us,” she added, urging the veteran artist’s global fanbase to actively flag and report offending accounts. “My mother is completely healthy and alive; no one has died, nor is she on the verge of death.”
The proliferation of deepfakes and AI-driven misinformation targeting high-profile figures has drawn increasing scrutiny from cybersecurity experts and media regulators worldwide. Unscrupulous channels frequently leverage algorithmic trends by generating exaggerated headlines, automated voiceovers, and synthesized images to artificially inflate engagement and ad revenue.
Despite the malicious online campaign, the legendary artist continues her active career. Runa Laila recently headlined two major concerts in Australia and led a high-profile solo musical evening hosted by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, showcasing her ongoing vitality and enduring artistic appeal.
