Vatican Anime Mascot Embroiled in AI-Generated Controversy
The Catholic Church has faced an unexpected scandal following the malicious use of AI technology to create explicit renderings of its anime-style mascot, Luce.
From Cultural Ambassador to Controversial Figure
The Vatican announced the creation of the mascot Luce as part of its exciting agenda for the upcoming jubilee year and Expo 2025 set to be held in Osaka, Japan. The strategy was aimed at attracting younger audiences, employing popular Italian artist Simone Legno to create the anime-inspired character. The intention was to make a positive, youthful, and relatable figure, however, it swiftly spiraled out of control when explicit, pornographic images of Luce were circulated online, particularly on AI platforms like Civitai.
A Dark Twist to a Wholesome Initiative
Though Luce was designed to be a charming anime character representing a wholesome image, AI users took advantage of the open nature of platforms like Civitai to create and share explicit content featuring the character. User-generated model pages became hotspots for sharing these images, leading to larger and larger audiences getting access to inappropriate content.
In fact, some users on Civitai appear to be encouraging this, with one stating, "If you came here for what everyone else came here for, then you won't be disappointed," while another ominously stated, "Lord forgive me for what I am about to do."
Disturbing Content and an Awaiting Response
The nature of the AI-generated images spans from nudity to full-blown pornography, with some even featuring questionable and disturbing themes. This scandal, a clear breach of the original intent for Luce, has stirred up major controversy, but the Vatican remains silent on the issue. A public statement addressing the situation has yet to be issued.
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