Die Aktuelle Editor in Chief Anne Hoffmann was fired after publishing the fake Michael Schumacher interview that was done through an artificial intelligence program.
The magazine ran with the headline " Michael Schumacher. The first interview. A worldwide sensation", along with a large photo of the German Formula 1 legend in the cover with the strapline "It sounded deceptively real" added while referring in the interview Titled "My Life Has Completely Changed" that it was done through AI.
Despite that hint, the interview was slammed by many worldwide, with the Schumacher family announcing their plans to take Die Aktuelle and its publishing group Funke Media Group to court over the fake interview.
Funke took immediate action in the aftermath of the scandal, and issued a statement on their website announcing that Anne Hoffmann, the editor in chief of Die Aktuelle was fired while apologizing for what they labelled as a "tasteless article".
Managing Director of Funke Magazines, Bianca Pohlmann, said in the statement: "FUNKE apologizes to the Schumacher family for reporting on Michael Schumacher in the latest issue of "Die Aktuelle".
A tasteless misleading article
"This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. It in no way corresponds to the standards of journalism that we – and our readers – expect from a publisher like FUNKE.
"As a result of the publication of this article, personal consequences will be drawn immediately. "Die Aktuelle" editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has been responsible for journalism for the newspaper since 2009, will be relieved of her duties as of today," the statement concluded.
Ever since his tragic skiing accident back in December 2013, Schumacher has been out of the public site, his privacy fiercely protects by his family while only very few members of his inner circle were allowed to see him.
Since his accident, Schumacher has been confined to his home in Switzerland and the family gives little information about his state of health.
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