“Modern problems require modern solutions”: Esquire publishes AI-generated interview with One Piece star after missing the real one

Esquire Singapore found itself in an awkward situation: actor Mackenyu, who plays Zoro in Netflix’s live-action One Piece, couldn’t make it to an interview due to his busy schedule. So what did they do? Turned to AI.

Normally, most outlets would reschedule or conduct the interview via email. But Esquire Singapore took a different route: they compiled Mackenyu’s past interviews, processed them through Claude and Microsoft Copilot, and published the result as if it were a полноценное интервью.

Editor Joy Ling explained the decision like this: “We really wanted to speak with the actor, but his schedule didn’t allow it. Driven by the urgent need for material, we decided to get creative.” A small note in the article states that the interview was “generated using Claude, Copilot, and edited by humans.” The AI version of Mackenyu reflects on pressure, expectations, disappointment, and professional growth — all in a neutral, non-committal tone. One particularly striking segment features the AI discussing the legacy of the actor’s late father, legendary Sonny Chiba, and the desire to make him proud. Notably, Mackenyu never responded to the outlet’s requests — meaning he did not consent to such a piece.

Fans reacted predictably.

“Esquire SG wrote an entire AI interview instead of using real answers. I doubt he agreed to this. Couldn’t they just publish a photoshoot without an interview? Remember: these are not his words.”

So far, Mackenyu and his agency have not commented on the situation.

Mackenyu plays Roronoa Zoro in both seasons of Netflix’s One Piece. The first season, released in 2023, scored 86% on Rotten Tomatoes — an unusually strong result for a live-action anime adaptation. The second season, released in March 2026, surpassed it: critics greeted it with near-universal acclaim, reaching close to 100% on Rotten Tomatoes in its early days. At launch, it drew 16.8 million views and topped Netflix’s global charts.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. Previously, there was a similar case in gaming media, where a review of Resident Evil Requiem turned out to be entirely AI-generated — and the listed author didn’t even exist.

Score, pros and cons of Netflix’s One Piece — review

Do you think the magazine will face backlash for this stunt?