Zach Braff isn’t dating an AI chatbot.
The “Scrubs” star, 50, addressed the viral theory on social media Thursday and explained how the rumor started.
“I’m not dating a chatbot,” Braff began in an Instagram Story post. “I can’t believe I have to type these words.”
He continued, “This is the storyline for the next Scrubs EP. Maybe that’s where it came from? I don’t know. But it’s not me.”
Braff ended his message with “love” from “a guy who’s not dating a chatbot.”
But the “Garden State” star quickly returned to the stage after learning about the bizarre rumors that first broke out on an episode of Jenny Slate, Max Silvestri and Gabe Liedman’s “I Need You Guys” podcast in December.
“I didn’t know until tonight (I don’t use TikTok) that these guys were the origin of this thing?” he wrote.
“I think this is a good time to be kind to others,” Braff added, along with a screenshot of Kumail Nanjiani, who appeared as a guest on the Dec. 16 podcast episode in question.
As the “Scrubs” alum pointed out, rumors about him dating an AI chatbot started late last year as a blind item on the “I Need You Guys” podcast.
Silvestri, 43, said an unidentified actor was “bringing chatbots” to various locations, at which point Nanjiani, 47, asked if the person was “A-list.”
“As close to A-list as you can get on TV,” Silvestri replied.
Nanjiani went on to ask if the anonymous actor was “aware of how weird it is” or “thinks it’s okay.”
“From what I understand, the little information I’ve heard is that there’s self-awareness, but it’s like, ‘Well, I’m sorry I’m not on board with the future,'” Silvestri explained before texting his co-host his name.
Representatives for Braff, Slate and Nanjiani did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment. Representatives for Mr. Silvestri and Mr. Liedman could not be reached.
Braff reprized his iconic role as Dr. John “JD” Dorian in the Scrubs revival, which premiered on February 25th.
He joined “Scrubs” alumni Donald Faison (Dr. Christopher Turk) and Sarah Chalke (Dr. Elliott Reed), along with newcomers Vanessa Bayer (Sibbie) and Joel Kim Booster (Dr. Eric Park), for the nine-episode 10th season.
As for Braff’s real-life relationship, he was reported to be dating musician Frances Whitney in 2024, when they were spotted having dinner together in West Hollywood.
Before that, the “Good Person” director dated Florence Pugh, 30, from 2019 to early 2022.
