Keyaa Banerji’s 140kg lift went viral. Then came AI images, fake accounts & abuse
Indian powerlifter Keyaa Banerji is facing severe online harassment, including the proliferation of AI-generated deepfake images, following her silver-medal win at the 2026 IPF World Championships. She has spoken out about the abuse to reclaim her identity and highlight the dangers of digital exploitation.
Why it matters
The case highlights the growing intersection of athletic success, digital privacy, and the malicious use of generative AI to harass public figures.
Indian powerlifter Keyaa Kunal Banerji's remarkable 140kg deadlift was supposed to be a moment of sporting celebration. Instead, the viral attention surrounding her silver-medal-winning performance at the 2026 IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships has exposed her to a deeply disturbing side of online fame.The 21-year-old powerlifter has revealed that she has faced sexual harassment, impersonation, conversations about her ethnicity, ancestry and caste, and what she described as thousands of AI-generated images using manipulated versions of her face and body.Banerji opened up about the experience through a series of Instagram stories, explaining why she had created a new account after her previous private profile was suspended.
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