Musician and TV personality Mario Lopez has drawn online criticism after sharing an AI-generated video appearing to show his niece eating a hotdog, posted to his account with the caption "I can't take my niece anywhere!" The clip, flagged by commentators as unsettling given its artificial nature and the involvement of a minor relative, comes amid wider unease about the casual use of AI-generated content depicting real people, particularly children.

The video was posted on 3 August 2026 and quickly drew attention, overshadowing other Los Angeles-related news that weekend, including the Dodgers' trade for pitcher Tarik Skubal. Details of how the video was made or its original purpose were not disclosed, and Lopez had not issued further comment at the time of writing.