A young woman reportedly escalated her fake pregnancy hoax by utilizing artificial intelligence to create a video showcasing a lifelike simulation of a baby for her family and friends to see.
Kira Cousins allegedly uploaded the clip online, displaying what appeared to be a sleeping newborn moving subtly. This AI-generated video was just one of several deceptive actions by the 22-year-old. She was accused of orchestrating a gender reveal with pink confetti, sporting a fake baby bump for an extended period, and sharing images of baby clothing on social media platforms.
Additionally, she exhibited a high-end pram worth £1,000, supposedly gifted by her family, and previously sent a video mimicking a baby kicking by moving her stomach.
The deception came to light when Kira purportedly announced the birth of her “baby girl,” Bonnie-Leigh, on social media in October. Subsequent investigations revealed that she had used a realistic reborn doll to deceive others into believing she had given birth.
The truth began to unravel when Kira’s mother discovered the doll alone in her room and realized it lacked the characteristics of a real infant. In a subsequent confession on TikTok, Kira acknowledged that her family had uncovered the ruse and confronted her about it.
Reborn dolls are meticulously crafted art pieces designed to resemble real babies, with some models incorporating electronic features such as heartbeats and breathing sounds. Some doll owners employ AI, digital filters, and camera effects to create the illusion of movement in videos.
A TikTok video featuring the lifelike “baby” garnered over three million views, prompting Kira’s friend, Naeve McRobert, to question the authenticity of the situation. McRobert noticed the removal of all images and videos of Bonnie-Leigh from their conversations and eventually learned the truth from the baby’s supposed father.
The elaborate deception has left many individuals feeling deceived and betrayed after believing Kira’s false claims for an extended period.