Social media was on fire this weekend after a photo began circulating that appeared to show Tyler Perry in a romantic embrace with former Real Housewives of Atlanta star Marlo Hampton.
The photo, which depicted the pair seemingly locked in a kiss, immediately ignited a firestorm of “new couple” alerts and dating speculation. However, the viral moment has been officially debunked as a total fabrication, serving as a reminder of how easily artificial intelligence can distort reality.
The rumors started following the Sea Salt SoulFull Sunday Gospel Brunch in Atlanta, an event held on March 15 to celebrate BMI executive Catherine Brewton. While both Perry and Hampton were prominent guests, the narrative of a secret romance quickly fell apart.
Entertainment reporter Loren LoRosa took to social media to set the record straight, confirming that the “kissing” picture was 100% AI-generated. LoRosa revealed that despite their proximity at the event, the two stars had actually never met before that afternoon.
“No, they are not dating. I’m told he’s never even met her before this brunch,” LoRosa shared while addressing the confusion. She explained that Tyler Perry attended as a guest of Jason Lee, while Marlo Hampton was there to support her close friend, Brewton.
While the two did share a table and were seen interacting in authentic videos from the event, LoRosa clarified that any romantic imagery was doctored. She even pointed to the original, unedited photos taken by the event’s photographer, Freddy O, to highlight the contrast between the fake post and reality.
Furthermore, sources close to the situation noted that Perry was intentionally keeping things lowkey throughout the brunch.
The billionaire creator was reportedly there to simply enjoy the music and fellowship, even asking for a bit of privacy to keep the focus on the guest of honor rather than himself. Now that the authentic photos have surfaced, it is clear that the supposed “kiss” was nothing more than a digital prank that went viral.
Tyler Perry IS NOT dating Marlo Hampton (formerly of Real Housewives of ATL) .. that photo of them kissing is FAKE.. AI strikes again. pic.twitter.com/0HqM7TIOLj
— BROWN GIRL GRINDING⭐️ (@LorenLorosa) March 20, 2026
