Jim Acosta ‘Interviews’ AI Avatar of Parkland Shooting Victim

Jim Acosta “interviewed” an AI-generated avatar of Joaquin “Guac” Oliver, a 17-year-old victim of the Parkland school shooting, to postulate a “powerful message on gun violence.”

The Details: Acosta, a former CNN (Lean Left bias) anchor, spoke to the AI Oliver as though he were a sentient guest. The video, released on “The Jim Acosta Show” on Monday, prompted some bipartisan disapproval due to both authenticity and politicization concerns. 

Key Quotes: Oliver’s parents reportedly arranged for the video. “My heart goes out to them, and I was honored to help them in this moment,” Acosta said. Oliver’s father said, “Just to be able to hear my son’s voice, that’s worth it, no matter the criticism.” The AI Oliver said in the “interview,” “Though my life was cut short, I want to keep inspiring others to make change.”

For Context: The shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018 left 17 dead and contributed heavily to debates on gun control in the US. Related: How Many School Shootings Have Happened in 2025? | AllSides

How The Media Covered It: Media across the political spectrum framed coverage around audience criticisms and Acosta’s defense. Daily Beast (Left) and Fox News (Right) found common ground in highlighting condemnation of the video from both liberals and conservatives.

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