Did accused murderer Luigi Mangione just get featured on Shein as a model?

WEB DESK: The marvels of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are discussed often but little did fast-fashion giant Shein know that eagle-eyed shoppers would pick on accused murderer Luigi Mangione‘s image standing as a model for shirt listings. The product photos, which feature a man in a button-down shirt, quickly went viral after online users pointed out the resemblance to Mangione, who has been behind bars at MDC Brooklyn since December. Mangione, accused of killing healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is awaiting trial, making it impossible he posed for a fashion shoot.

That hasn’t stopped speculation, though. Many believe Shein may have used generative AI to create the image, while others wonder if the company unintentionally used a stock photo eerily resembling Mangione. The confusion deepened when the USD11 shirt nearly sold out, leaving just one size available.

Critics slammed Shein for failing to vet images properly, raising broader concerns about the rise of AI-generated models in e-commerce. The controversy also highlights how fast fashion’s relentless content churn can lead to bizarre, and unsettling mishaps.

Adding to the surreal twist, Mangione shares jail space with rapper Diddy, who is awaiting sentencing. For many, the idea of a high-profile inmate’s lookalike being used to sell cheap shirts underscores just how blurred the line between digital fabrication and reality has become.

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As of now, Shein has not commented on the controversy, nor has Mangione’s legal team. But the incident raises questions: in the rush to adopt AI, are companies opening themselves up to ethical minefields? And when your model looks like a murder suspect, does the shirt still sell, or is that the very reason it does?

One thing’s clear: Shein has everyone talking, though probably not in the way it hoped.