Zach Braff Forced To Speak Out After Facing Truly Bizarre Accusation

Zach Braff Forced To Speak Out After Facing Truly Bizarre Accusation Samridhi GoelFri, March 13, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC 0 Actor and filmmaker Zach Braff unexpectedly found himself at the center of a strange internet rumor about his romantic life after an old podcast clip resurfaced online on March 12, sparking widespread speculation. The discussion involved an unnamed television actor and a piece of Hollywood gossip that many listeners initially found amusing.

Zach Braff Forced To Speak Out After Facing Truly Bizarre Accusation

Samridhi GoelFri, March 13, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC

0

Actor and filmmaker Zach Braff unexpectedly found himself at the center of a strange internet rumor about his romantic life after an old podcast clip resurfaced online on March 12, sparking widespread speculation.

The discussion involved an unnamed television actor and a piece of Hollywood gossip that many listeners initially found amusing.

As soon as the clip began circulating on social media, Braff's name started trending in comment sections and Reddit threads, prompting the actor to step in and shut down the bizarre claim eventually.

A resurfaced podcast discussion about a mystery TV actor reignited online speculation

Image credits: Stephanie Augello/Getty Images

The strange rumor originated during a December 2025 episode of the I Need You Guys podcast, hosted by Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, and TV writer Max Silvestri, with Kumail Nanjiani appearing as a guest.

During the conversation, Silvestri shared a piece of Hollywood gossip claiming to have heard about a "well-known actor who is currently in a romantic relationship with his AI chatbot."

He described the unnamed actor as "as near A-list as TV can get you."

The hosts quickly reacted with surprise as the story unfolded, with Nanjiani asking how famous the actor actually was and whether the person was aware of how unusual the situation sounded.

"From my understanding, the little info I've heard is that there is a self-awareness," Silvestri explained, adding that the actor's attitude was essentially "sorry you're not on board with the future."

The identity of the actor was never revealed publicly. Instead, Silvestri texted the name privately to the other hosts during the recording.

"Perfect, perfect, perfect," Nanjiani said after reading it, while Slate responded, "Oh my God, this is not— we can't put this on our podcast."

Although the clip had circulated online at the time of recording, it gained traction months later.

As soon as the clip resurfaced, social media users tried guessing the mystery actor, and Zach Braff's name kept appearing

Image credits: Noam Galai/Getty Images

Interest in the clip surged when the gossip Instagram account, Deuxmoi, reposted it, prompting a wave of speculation about the unnamed celebrity.

Across Reddit and Instagram comment sections, Braff's name repeatedly appeared because he is widely known for his role as J.D. in Scrubs and is believed to currently be single.

Many commenters found the speculation amusing rather than convincing. "I believe him, but imagine having to reckon with the fact that hundreds of people heard this gossip and went 'Zach Braff for sure,'" one user joked.

Image credits: ABC Studios

Another wrote, "Poor Zach catching strays for no reason."

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Others suggested the rumor might have been exaggerated or misunderstood.

"The way Jenny and Kumail reacted, it kinda feels like it's either a joke or someone who already isn't taken seriously," one commenter said.

Some people even suspected the entire situation might be connected to publicity or marketing.

"This whole thing feels like an ad," one user wrote, while another speculated, "This is just going to end up being some long-running bit to advertise an AI app."

After his name began circulating online, Braff quickly addressed the rumor on his Instagram

Image credits: zachbraff/Instagram

On March 13, Braff responded directly on Instagram Stories to clear things up.

"I'm not dating a chatbot," he wrote, adding, "I can't believe I have to type these words."

Braff also suggested a possible explanation for why the rumor might have spread.

"It is a storyline in an upcoming ep of Scrubs. Maybe it came from that? Not sure. But not me."

He ended the message with a humorous sign-off, "Love, the guy not dating his chatbot. Please update all the gossip sites."

Braff also posted screenshots of the podcast hosts and added a brief reminder about online discourse.

"I feel like now is a good time to be kind to people," he wrote.

Despite Braff's statement, people have been skipping human partners and dating AI

Image credits: zachbraff/Instagram

While Braff's robotic romance was just a rumor, the shift toward digital intimacy is becoming a tangible reality.

In neighborhoods like Hell's Kitchen, New York, the stigma is fading as platforms like EvaAI host "AI dating cafes."

At these events, solo guests sit at candlelit tables with phones or tablets propped up where a human partner would typically be.

Image credits: Disney Plus UK

This trend is driven by a desire for low-pressure, rejection-free interaction. For many, the appeal lies in the total control over the relationship as there's no ghosting, no mixed signals, and no social anxiety.

Whether used for romantic roleplay or as a practice partner, AI is moving from our pockets to the dinner table.

"I'd be so embarrassed if ppl believed I was dating a chatbot," wrote one user

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March 13, 2026

Zach Braff Forced To Speak Out After Facing Truly Bizarre Accusation

Zach Braff Forced To Speak Out After Facing Truly Bizarre Accusation Samridhi GoelFri, March 13, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC ...

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Minnie Driver says Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron helped her during Oscars wardrobe malf...

The actress revealed the &34;Terminator&34; star and director found &34;every single bead but four&34; after her bracelet snapped during the ceremony. Minnie Driver says Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron helped her during Oscars wardrobe malfunction The actress revealed the &34;Terminator&34; star and director found &34;every single bead but four&34; after her bracelet snapped during the ceremony. By Emlyn Travis :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/EmlynTravisauthorphotocba6765b433b4f93b9398d18053153b1.jpg) Emlyn Travis Emlyn Travis is a news writer at . She has been working at EW since 2022.

The actress revealed the "Terminator" star and director found "every single bead but four" after her bracelet snapped during the ceremony.

Minnie Driver says Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron helped her during Oscars wardrobe malfunction

The actress revealed the "Terminator" star and director found "every single bead but four" after her bracelet snapped during the ceremony.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

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March 13, 2026 10:58 a.m. ET

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Arnold Schwarzenegger; Minnie Driver; James Cameron. Credit:

Kevin Winter/Getty; Monica Schipper/Getty; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

Minnie Driver is revealing how Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron came to her aid after she suffered a wardrobe malfunction at the Oscars in 1998.

The 56-year-old actress, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress that year for her performance in *Good Will Hunting**,* shared that the *Terminator* star and director were extremely helpful in finding the scattered beads of her bracelet after it broke during the ceremony.

Driver explained that the incident occurred when she was cheering on her costar Robin Williams' win for Best Supporting Actor that evening.

Minnie Driver at the 1998 Oscars.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

"When Robin Williams won, I had an incredibly beautiful bracelet on that was made up of hundreds of ruby beads," Driver recalled on Thursday's episode of *The Tonight Show*. "And as I was clapping for Robin, it bust."

To make matters worse, the beads were spread across the red carpet of the theater, making them not only a potential hazard but also harder to find.

But no mission is ever too challenging for the Terminator. "I'm not kidding you, Jim Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger got down on their hands and knees and they found — I mean, there were hundreds of them," Driver said. "When I handed the broken pieces back, there were only four missing."

James Cameron and Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009.

GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty

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She added, "They found every single bead but four. They were obsessed!"

As it turns out, a broken bracelet wasn't the only wardrobe malfunction that Driver experienced that night. Her dress — a crimson gown with an accompanying shawl — also nearly fell off while she was walking the red carpet with her parents.

"I'm looking at my dad because that picture was taken as my dress fell off," Driver said as host Jimmy Fallon held up a photograph of her smiling at the event. "And I'm clutching that stole around me to, you know, hide what I had for breakfast."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

Driver revealed that her dad tried his best to coach her through the situation. "I'm looking at my dad and my dad was just doing this," she said, putting a finger to her face and miming a smile. "He was like, 'Keep smiling! Just keep smiling! Hold it!'"

Driver lost the Oscar to Kim Basinger for *L.A. Confidential*. Besides Williams' win, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon also took home the award for Best Original Screenplay for *Good Will Hunting*.

Watch Driver recall her wardrobe malfunctions in the clip above.

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Abductor could &34;strike again,&34; according to authorities Sheriff gives update on Nancy Guthrie investigation: ​​'We believe we know why he did this' Abductor could &34;strike again,&34; according to authorities By Leigh Blickley on March 13, 2026 11:54 a.m. ET Leave a Comment :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/SavannahGuthrieNancyGuthrie020126c85b19ac3ad84a1c98bb4871dfbd37ad.jpg) Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the 'Today' set in 2023.

Abductor could "strike again," according to authorities

Sheriff gives update on Nancy Guthrie investigation: ​​'We believe we know why he did this'

Abductor could "strike again," according to authorities

By Leigh Blickley

on March 13, 2026 11:54 a.m. ET

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Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the 'Today' set in 2023. Credit:

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Forty days into the search for Nancy Guthrie, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says authorities know why the mother of *Today *anchor Savannah Guthrie was targeted in a suspected abduction.

In an interview with *NBC Nightly News* on Thursday, Nanos shared an update on the investigation, which has been ongoing since the 84-year old was reported missing from her home in Catalina Foothills, Arizona on Feb. 1. He stated that authorities believe the suspect "could strike again" and that residents should remain on alert.

Nanos told *NBC News* correspondent Liz Kreutz of Nancy's disappearance on Thursday, "We believe we know why he did this, and we believe that it was targeted, but we're not 100 percent sure of that, so it'd be silly to tell people, 'Yeah, don't worry about it. You're not his target.' Don't think for a moment because it happened to the Guthrie family you're safe. Keep your wits about you."

Nanos added that authorities believe they know the suspect's motive but are "intentionally withholding" those details to prevent theories from spreading. "From day one, we had some strong beliefs about what happened, and those beliefs haven't diminished," he said.

The sheriff's department is also looking into a reported internet outage in the area on the night of Nancy's disappearance and considering whether a Wi-Fi jammer was used or another electrical disruption occurred.

He said, "We have our beliefs, everybody else has theirs."

Savannah Guthrie and mother, Nancy Guthrie.

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

Nanos has been the subject of reports as of late that he withheld physical evidence pertaining to Nancy's case from the FBI, which is assisting in the investigation. He denied those reports in February as "not even close to the truth." He also responded to a report on Tuesday that he misrepresented his work history on his résumé.

The report, published Monday by the *Arizona Republic*, made several claims regarding Nanos' time with the El Paso Police Department, including that his service there ended in 1982, while his résumé stated that he worked there until 1984.

A representative for the Pima County Sheriff's Department provided a statement to * *on Tuesday confirming that discrepancy, and owning up to another not included in the *Arizona Republic *report.

"The Pima County Sheriff's Department recently identified two clerical errors in Sheriff Chris Nanos' publicly posted resume," the statement said. "Both date discrepancies were administrative in nature and were not intended to mislead or misrepresent Sheriff Nanos' work history."

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The statement continued: "Sheriff Nanos served with the El Paso Police Department from 1976 to 1982. His service with El Paso PD concluded in 1982, not 1984 as previously stated. Additionally, Sheriff Nanos was promoted to the rank of captain in 2007, not 2009."

An résumé with the errors corrected has since been uploaded to the PCSD website, and the statement concluded by stating that Nanos "has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to professionalism, accountability, and the safety of the communities he serves," leading the department he has presided over since 2021 "with experience, integrity, and a clear focus on protecting the residents of Pima County."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our ******EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

As the search for Nancy continues, her daughter, *Today Show* anchor Savannah, has acknowledged that her mother "may already be gone."

In a video shared to her Instagram on February 24, Savannah said that although she and her siblings, Annie and Camron, continue to fight for their mother's safe return, they've contemplated the bleak reality that Nancy "may be lost."

"We still believe in a miracle, we still believe that she can come home — hope against hope," Savannah said fighting back tears as she added that her family is "aching" for their missing matriarch. "As my sister says, 'We are blowing on the embers of hope.'"

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Sheriff gives update on Nancy Guthrie investigation: ​​'We believe we know why he did this'

Abductor could &34;strike again,&34; according to authorities Sheriff gives update on Nancy Guthrie investigation...

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Did JFK Jr. and Michael Berman really get into a physical fight? What we know about the blowout (...

Ryan Murphy's &34;Love Story&34; shows the pair coming to blows behind the scenes of the politics and culture magazine. Did JFK Jr. and Michael Berman really get into a physical fight? What we know about the blowout (and how Carolyn factored in) Ryan Murphy's &34;Love Story&34; shows the pair coming to blows behind the scenes of the politics and culture magazine. By Randall Colburn :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RandallColburnauthorphotoe7e8b48d9f8645588439077e721a5f48.jpg) Randall Colburn Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at . His work has previously appeared on The A.V.

Ryan Murphy's "Love Story" shows the pair coming to blows behind the scenes of the politics and culture magazine.

Did JFK Jr. and Michael Berman really get into a physical fight? What we know about the blowout (and how Carolyn factored in)

Ryan Murphy's "Love Story" shows the pair coming to blows behind the scenes of the politics and culture magazine.

By Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn

Randall Colburn is a writer and editor at **. His work has previously appeared on The A.V. Club, The Guardian, The Ringer, and many other publications.

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March 13, 2026 11:35 a.m. ET

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John F. Kennedy Jr. and Michael Berman announcing the launch of 'George'. Credit:

Lawrence Schwartzwald/Sygma via Getty

- JRK Jr. co-founded *George*, a politics and pop culture magazine, with his friend Michael Berman.

- A physical altercation (and ripped shirtsleeve) led to Berman's exit from the project.

- Berman regrets not making amends with JFK Jr. prior to the scion's 1999 death.

John F. Kennedy Jr. was working as an assistant district attorney when Bill Clinton's infamous sax solo on a 1992 episode of *The Arsenio Hall Show* got him thinking. Glossy print magazines were all the rage — what about one that merged politics and pop culture? Three years later, his idea became a reality with the first issue of *George*.

As its title implies, FX's *Love Story *is primarily centered on JFK Jr.'s troubled marriage to Carolyn Bessette, but it also explores the scion's efforts to launch *George* with the help of a friend, Michael Berman.

On the show, the relationship between JFK Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly) and Berman (Michael Nathanson) is a fractious one plagued by disagreements. The simmering tensions between the pair boiled over in episode 7, resulting in a bitter fight and Berman's exit from the magazine.

Did JFK Jr. and Michael Berman really come to blows? And is that really why Berman left *George*? Here's what we know about what happened in real life.**

Did JFK Jr. and Michael Berman really get into a fight?

JFK Jr., David Pecker, and Michael Berman at a 'George' press conference in New York City.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Several publications, including *The Independent*, *Time*, and *Esquire*, have reported of a "physical altercation" that occurred between JFK Jr. and Michael Berman behind the scenes of *George*.

The *Esquire* report, for example, called the pair's testy relationship an "office distraction," noting a fight in January 1997 that "left Berman's shirtsleeve ripped" and resulted in JFK Jr. asking to have the locks on his office doors changed.

This is all elaborated upon in Steven M. Gillon's 2019 biography, *America's Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr*., which includes quotes from Berman about the pair's fallout.

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Ryan Murphy reacts to Kennedy family firestorm over his new JFK Jr. show

The fight then spilled out into the hallway, with Berman allegedly trying to use a letter opener to pick the lock of JFK Jr.'s office.

"Of all the fierce arguments that Michael and John had had in the past, this one was by far the loudest and most intense," Gillon writes. "To those who witnessed the scene, Berman appeared out of control."

When JFK Jr. called on a locksmith, Berman requested that his lock also be changed. "John managed to get his lock changed with a simple phone call; his co-founder was told he needed to submit a work order."

This dynamic, in which JRK Jr.'s name and celebrity earned him the kind of preferential treatment that Berman never received, was an ongoing source of tension between the pair. Gillon was a co-founder of *George*, but felt that he and JFK Jr. were not treated as equal partners by the magazine's publisher, Hachette.**

What was JFK Jr. and Michael Berman's real-life fight about?

Michael Nathanson as Michael Berman and Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr. on 'Love Story'.

The inequality sensed by Berman wasn't the only source of tension between the business partners. According to numerous reports (and Gillon's book), the pair frequently disagreed about the direction of the magazine.

What caused matters to boil over in January 1997, according to Gillon, was the idea of a *George* TV show. Hatchette was eager to launch a series capitalizing on JFK Jr.'s fame, but the scion was less enthused, wanting to prove himself as an editor.

He eventually relented, saying he would play a small role in a TV special. "He would say hello and goodbye," Berman told Gillon. "He had full approval of everything he would say. His name would not appear in the title. He would not be asked to promote it."

That's how Berman says he presented it to networks, but wires got crossed and JFK Jr. allegedly became convinced he was being set up as a TV host, with Berman negotiating behind his back.

According to Gillon, this led to him storming into Berman's office, and the physical struggle ensued over the files related to the show. "We are not doing any of this," JFK Jr. is reported to have said. "I'll be the editor, and you can be the publisher. That's the way it's going to be."

The conflict escalated when Berman brought up JFK Jr.'s "problems at home," specifically his relationship to his wife, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. JFK Jr. reportedly said that Berman was jealous of how the staff liked Bessette Kennedy more than him. Berman allegedly retorted, "Her behavior is deplorable!" This remark, Gillon writes, is what caused JFK Jr. to leave Berman's office and Berman to follow him.

In 2003, *Vanity Fair *also reported on tension between Berman and Bessette Kennedy, saying that her "constant meddling" in *George*'s editorial operations hurt JFK Jr.'s relationship with Berman.

"Carolyn didn't like Michael Berman," said one of the article's sources. "She thought Michael wasn't on the up-and-up, and that he had a vested interest in her husband. She poisoned John's relationship with Michael. I heard her tell John, 'I don't believe Michael's your real friend. The only reason he's close to you is because you're John F. Kennedy Jr.'"

Why did Michael Berman leave George?

Michael Nathanson as Michael Berman on 'Love Story'.

According to Gillon, the January 1997 fight resulted in the end of JFK Jr. and Berman's friendship, as well as Berman's exit from *George*. Despite JFK Jr. apologizing and buying Berman a new shirt, his partner departed to work at another division of Hatchette.

Publisher Elinore Carmody-Gibbons told Gillon, "You cannot underestimate the impact of Michael leaving." Jean-Louis Ginibre, an editorial director for Hatchette, added, "When Berman left, something was lost in the mix."

Ad sales suffered in his wake, and the magazine never recovered following JFK Jr.'s death in a 1999 plane crash. Its last issue was published in January 2001.**

What has Michael Berman said about his relationship to JFK Jr.?

Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr. on 'Love Story'.

For many years, Berman remained silent about his departure from *George* and the fallout of his relationship with JFK Jr. Two decades after his exit, he finally opened up to Gillon.

"I regret having lost control that day. I certainly knew better — we both did — but my professional life had just come crashing down," he said. "John reached out a number of times over the next couple of years, but I never responded. I was still too angry."

Berman, who found success as an investor and the president of a private equity firm, looks back fondly on his former partner. "John started out as a good partner," he told Gillon. "He intuitively understood the intersection of politics and pop culture better than anyone I have ever known. He worked hard and challenged the status quo. He provided tremendous value well beyond his name. George foresaw what now constitutes an inherent aspect of 21st-century American culture. It's sad he's not here to see it, but even though the magazine did not survive, the original premise ultimately came true. For John, that is a powerful legacy."

He added of their ugly final meeting, "Having allowed that to be our final interaction haunts me to this day."**

Where can I watch Love Story?

*Love Story* is now streaming on Hulu.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

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Source: "EW Drama"

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Published: March 13, 2026 at 11:57AM on Source: PRIME TIME

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Did JFK Jr. and Michael Berman really get into a physical fight? What we know about the blowout (...

Ryan Murphy's &34;Love Story&34; shows the pair coming to blows behind the scenes of the politics and culture maga...

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