Image mocking Cambodian designer at Cannes Film Festival is AI-generated
- Published on May 28, 2026 at 11:59
- 2 min read
- By Chayanit ITTHIPONGMAETEE, AFP Thailand
Social media users in Thailand have shared an AI-generated image of a Cambodian designer being escorted out of the Cannes Film Festival, the latest example in a series of online campaigns between the neighbouring Southeast Asian nations following violent border clashes since 2025. AFP reporters at the festival did not see anyone escorted away by security, while the image contained visual inconsistencies and was flagged by detection software as AI-generated.
"A Cambodian star walked the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival and displayed the Cambodian national flag at the event. He was eventually carried away by bodyguards for being in the way. He looked completely stunned," reads a Facebook post published on May 20, 2026 by an account with more than 550,000 followers.
The post shares a photo of fashion designer Men Seyha -- also known as Oliva Kong -- at a red carpet event. He is flanked by two men appearing to escort him away, with onlookers in the background (archived link).
The claim appeared against a backdrop of ongoing hostilities between Thais and Cambodians, who have exchanged taunts and false claims online since deadly border clashes erupted in July and December 2025 (archived here and here).
The image was shared by Thai social media users on Facebook, X and TikTok during the 79th Cannes Film Festival, held in France from May 12 to May 23, 2026, where 22 films were competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or award (archived link).
The same image was also used in Thai media reports about the purported incident involving the Cambodian designer.
One social media user criticised Men Seyha for "having no sense of place or situation". Another commented: "[Cambodians] were the laughing stock of Asia, now they're the laughing stock of the world."
But there have been no official reports that the incident described in the posts occurred -- and the circulating image is inauthentic.
Men Seyha can be seen wearing the same outfit in a photo taken by Getty Images and distributed by AFP on May 18. Its caption says it was taken during the screening of Palme d'Or winner "Fjord" the same day.
AFP photographers did not see anyone escorted away by security during the screening.
Moreover, several visual inconsistencies can be spotted in the viral image. The shoes of one of the men escorting the designer appear to merge with the stairs, while the fingers of one onlooker appear to merge.
Google's SynthID detection tool indicated "high" confidence the image was created using the company's AI tools (archived link).
AFP reached out to Men Seyha, but a response was not forthcoming.
More of our reporting on AI-powered misinformation can be found here.
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