Matt Barnes is clapping back at rumors claiming he was extorted by an AI model. Earlier this month, posts circulated online saying the former NBA star lost $61,000 to someone using an AI model on a dating app. The story even reached Gilbert Arenas, who joked on his podcast, “I’m the only person that can’t get caught by AI like that.”

On Monday (Dec. 8), Barnes addressed the rumors in an Instagram reel, keeping it straight and unfiltered. 

“2025 has been a crazy year, man,” he said. “When I look back on this year in 10 to 15 years, it’s gonna be like, d*mn. Personal life being flipped upside down because of me, but at the same time, really starting to take off.”

He also opened up about the tougher side of the year, saying he’s spent time on “personal healing and family healing.” 

“I’ve sat back and watched the internet lie about me the whole year,” Barnes said. “The whole year … lies from me being gay, to me talking [someone into an] abortion, to me telling some girl not to do a reality show.”

Then the AI story hit, and Barnes had questions. “I get back from Dubai … I see all of a sudden I’m suing an AI model, or I got played by an AI model,” he said, calling out “bottom of the barrel-a** blogs” for spreading the speculation. “You guys believe I got played by an AI model, and I’m suing them? Where the f**k did you guys get this from?”

He also addressed Arenas’ joke, clarifying that the former Wizards star is “someone I’m close with” and that he apologized. 

“Y’all can’t believe everything you motherf**king hear,” Barnes added. “Like, I said, I’ve been dealing with some real sh*t while y’all been lying.”

This isn’t his first brush with fake AI allegations. Last month, he shared plans to sue vlogger Tasha K for posting alleged AI-generated audio and video that claimed he cheated on his ex-fiancée, Anansa Sims.