Zach Braff has addressed online chatter claiming he’s romantically involved with an AI chatbot.
After the rumor began circulating, the actor posted on social media to make clear it isn’t true, saying the idea stems from a plot point connected to Scrubs rather than anything happening in his personal life.
“I’m not dating a chatbot,” Braff wrote online.
“I can’t believe I have to type these words. It is a storyline in an upcoming ep of Scrubs. Maybe it came from that? Not sure. But not me. Love, The guy not dating his chatbot. Please update all gossip sites.”
Braff also reposted screengrabs referencing an episode of the podcast I Need You Guys, hosted by Max Silvestri, Jenny Slate, and Gabe Liedman. In a 2025 installment featuring guest Kumail Nanjiani, the group talked about a story involving an unnamed actor and an AI companion.
In the discussion, Silvestri claimed he’d heard about ‘a prominent Hollywood actor dating a chatbot’ and described how the alleged relationship played out.
“There’s a well-known actor who is currently in a romantic relationship with his AI chatbot,” Silvestri said.
“And [he] brings the chatbot with him places and talks to the chatbot. I think on the phone or computer or whatever.”
When the hosts pressed for how famous the person supposedly was, Silvestri suggested the actor was a major name in television who’d also appeared in movies.
When asked how well known the actor was, he added: “Very. As near A-list as TV can get you.
“This person’s also done films.”
Nanjiani reacted by questioning whether the actor understood how unusual it sounded.
Nanjiani then asked: “Is he self-aware about how f***ing weird it is, or he thinks it’s okay?”
Silvestri replied that, based on what he’d heard, there was some acknowledgement—though framed as confidence in what’s coming next.
To which Silvestri said: “From my understanding, the little bit I’ve heard, is that there is a self-awareness, but in kind of like a, ‘Yeah, sorry you’re not on board with the future’ [way].”
Silvestri then text Nanjiani the name of the actor, and Nanjiani’s response suggested he didn’t fully agree with the “A-list” framing.
Silvestri then text Nanjiani the name of the actor, to which Nanjiani said: “Perfect! I will say, good description, not A-list.”
Following his earlier messages, Braff added another note to his Stories urging a more considerate tone online.
Braff later added on his Stories: “I feel like now is a good time to be kind to people.”
Silvestri later responded as well, saying he had never identified Braff publicly and joking that there were bigger concerns competing for attention.
Silvestri has now responded to Braff’s posts, explaining: “Have never mentioned this man’s name in my life. Aren’t there more important stories in the world right now? Between tariffs and energy prices, the average American can barely afford to charge their girlfriend.”
Braff previously dated actor Florence Pugh, with their relationship lasting around three years from 2019 to 2022.
Elsewhere, Pugh discussed the public reaction to their 21-year age gap during an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, explaining that outside opinions rarely change even when people try to address them directly.
While appearing on an episode of Louis Theroux’s podcast, The Louis Theroux Podcast, Pugh defended their 21-year age gap, telling Louis: “With relationships and with romance in this world, it doesn’t matter how much you speak on it or how little you speak on it.
“People don’t care. They want a story. They sort of want a reality show. So, it doesn’t really matter how much you say you love someone or how much they make you happy. If they don’t like them and it doesn’t fit that image that they want of you, they don’t care. I think that hurt me.
“I stood up for it and I stood up for him and I stood up for me just being allowed to do whatever the f**k I wanted to do.”