Rising Gen Z Pop Singer Turns Out to Be Middle Aged Man After Release of Album Titled “Fake Girl”
"I felt like I was played." The post Rising Gen Z Pop Singer Turns Out to Be Middle Aged Man After Release of Album Titled “Fake Girl” appeared first on Futurism .
A renowned indie musician from the Gen Z era, identified as Betty Hammerschlag, has recently been exposed as a middle-aged man, involved in a deceptive scheme that managed to fool fans, critics, and collaborators alike. According to music journalist Shawn Reynaldo, who published an investigative piece in his newsletter First Floor on Wednesday, Hammerschlag had been presenting herself as a young woman pursuing art studies, using images of other women in her social media and promotional materials.
Additionally, her communication style was deliberately informal, employing lowercase letters and emojis popular among Gen Z users. Hammerschlag's music has garnered positive reviews from established outlets like The Guardian and The Quietus, as well as notable airtime on NTS Radio, including her latest album titled "fake girl." However, the façade unraveled when Reynaldo traced the origins back to Tilman Hornig, a 45-year-old (or possibly older) musician from Germany.
The elaborate deception extended beyond the creation of Hammerschlag's artistic identity. Hornig reportedly maintained the pretense by messaging individuals online, including other young female and LGBTQ+ artists, in character, leading to private exchanges that showcased his elaborate ruse. For instance, Hammerschlag informed one of her collaborators, tibslc, an ambient artist from Leipzig, that she lacked the energy to perform due to academic commitments.
Upon discovering that Hornig, a 47-year-old man, orchestrated the entire operation, tibslc expressed shock and emotional distress. Similarly, Tim Dalzell, the founder of blush label, which published some of Hammerschlag's music, felt betrayed, noting that the artist consistently communicated in the manner of a young girl and even inquired about early royalty payments to fund art school.
Despite initial assurances that he respected the artist's privacy, Dalzell eventually ceased selling the music upon learning the truth. Hammerschlag's reluctance to grant live interviews and the presence of other women impersonating her at public appearances further raised suspicions. Some of the promotional text for her album was flagged as AI-generated, and it remains uncertain if the female vocal elements in her songs were produced using artificial intelligence as well.
Reynaldo's exposé criticized Hornig's behavior, deeming it "creepy," especially when considering the unwitting involvement of numerous individuals who collaborated with or supported the artist.
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