Crowded House Shut Down AI-Generated Erectile Dysfunction Rumour About Neil Finn

Crowded House have addressed one of the stranger by-products of the AI era, after an AI-generated fake news report claimed Neil Finn had struggled with erectile dysfunction.

The rumour began circulating on Facebook when an AI-fabricated video appeared to show the 67-year-old frontman speaking candidly about overcoming the issue and becoming a father again. The “interview” was fronted by a digitally altered version of TVNZ journalist Simon Dallow, and the AI Finn went into elaborate detail about losing sexual function, the shame it caused him, and the supposed steps taken to “permanently resolve” the problem. Another AI-generated clip featured a fake version of Māori doctor Lance O’Sullivan offering advice.

None of it was real. In a move that shows how surreal online misinformation has become, Crowded House later issued a statement directly refuting the claim. “We’re not sure where this came from, but please don’t be fooled,” the band wrote on Facebook. “Neil’s never had trouble with erections.”

While the statement carried a note of dry humour, it also underscored the growing concern about AI deepfakes being used to spread false, invasive narratives. The incident is just one example of how generative AI is being weaponised to fabricate personal stories about public figures without their knowledge or consent.

Recent studies warn that the music industry could lose a quarter of its income to AI within four years, as the technology’s market value rises from €3billion to an expected €64billion by 2028. Platforms like Deezer already see around 10,000 AI-generated tracks uploaded daily, and high-profile musicians including Elton John, Florence Welch, Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa and Robbie Williams have called for stronger copyright protections.

Others, like Nick Cave, have been blunt about the creative threat, describing AI’s presence in music as “unbelievably disturbing” and potentially humiliating for artists. Yet some, including ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, see it as a tool with potential if used responsibly.

In the case of Neil Finn, though, the story is pretty simple. The claims were fake, the footage was fabricated, and the only thing Crowded House are concerned with is the music, not AI-generated bedroom myths like this.