Christian Ulmen accused of decade-long deepfake abuse against ex-wife Collien Fernandes

Actor Christian Ulmen faces serious allegations of creating pornographic deepfakes of his ex-wife, Collien Fernandes, over a decade. The claims, reported by Der Spiegel, include evidence such as an email where Ulmen admits to setting up fake social media profiles in her name. Fernandes, who initially believed anonymous attackers were responsible, discovered Ulmen's alleged involvement only this year.

Fernandes first suspected unknown perpetrators were behind the online harassment. According to Der Spiegel, she later uncovered that Ulmen had allegedly created accounts under her identity to engage men in explicit conversations. The investigation suggests he used AI-generated voice cloning to impersonate her in sexually charged messages.

The case highlights how domestic abuse can extend into digital spaces. *Der Spiegel*'s report focuses on Fernandes as the primary victim, though it does not specify how many others may have been affected. Authorities are now examining the allegations, with Ulmen maintaining his presumption of innocence until legal proceedings conclude. Fernandes has since filed a criminal complaint in Spain, where both she and Ulmen live. The accusations include sending pornographic material while posing as her, as well as using deepfake technology to manipulate her image. Digital sexualised violence, which covers acts like revenge porn, cyberstalking, and unsolicited explicit content, remains a growing concern in online safety debates.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Spanish authorities reviewing the evidence. Fernandes' case underscores the legal and personal challenges of combating digital abuse. Ulmen has not yet faced formal charges, and the outcome will depend on the findings of the criminal probe.