{"rewrite":{"id":"r_17d51b3d790a6df0b3c982ea","clusterId":"c_a37c7a520d7055accb3bda79","slug":"streamer-leon-admits-using-shiromanta-s-art-for-ai-after-lying","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Streamer LEON Representative Admits Using Shiromanta Art in AI, Apologizes","summary":"Streamer LEON representative, active in survival games like Rust, admitted on September 4 that he used illustrations gifted by manga artist Shiromanta in generative AI, apologized, and announced a hiatus from activities. The logo for his Rust event 'DEATH GAME,' held from August 29 to 31, was created by running Shiromanta's 2023 illustration through AI. When Shiromanta first asked about the image, LEON representative said he used it without recognizing it as AI-generated and cited confidentiality in refusing to name the contractor. After streamer Kenki, a DEATH GAME participant, independently confirmed the details with LEON representative, the response changed to acknowledge knowing the image was AI-made. Shiromanta received a written apology and asked that the matter be explained publicly. In a September 3 Twitch stream, Shiromanta said he has no opinion on AI's merits, but described being lied to by a friend as sad and unacceptable. LEON representative's apology acknowledged betraying Shiromanta's trust and said he would take time to reflect.","whyItMatters":"The case turns less on the AI use itself and more on Shiromanta's stated reason for staying silent about his view of AI: he stressed the harm came from being deceived by someone he considered a friend.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLEON representative runs about 101,000 YouTube subscribers and 99,000 Twitch followers.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe event logo was made by running a 2023 illustration Shiromanta drew of LEON representative through AI.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDEATH GAME fielded 48 participants split into 12 teams, including SHAKA, Kenki, and Vspo! VTuber Hinano Tachibana.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShiromanta first noticed the image in August while watching a stream tied to the event, before asking LEON representative on September 1.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShiromanta at first accepted LEON representative\u0026#39;s denial, saying he chose to trust a friend, then asked that his illustrations not be used until the suspicion cleared.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKenki contacted LEON representative after Shiromanta asked him to stop using the image in a video, and the confirmation produced the admission.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShiromanta ended his roughly 15-minute stream without taking viewer questions, saying he wanted to avoid biased explanations.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShiromanta is best known for \u0026#34;My Senpai is Annoying,\u0026#34; adapted into a TV anime, and currently draws \u0026#34;Karubi, Momareru.\u0026#34; based on VTuber Karubi Akami, with Aka Akasaka co-writing the original story.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLEON representative\u0026#39;s written apology said he committed \u0026#34;an irreversible act\u0026#34; and that he is \u0026#34;full of regret for betraying your expectations.\u0026#34;\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Shiromanta: 'I have no intention of voicing opinions on how AI should be used.' What hurt was LEON representative, a friend, giving explanations that differed from the facts.","twitterPost":"Streamer LEON representative said he'd 'check with the illustration contractor,' then blamed confidentiality. Kenki's follow-up is what got the actual answer: the AI use was deliberate.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"A Rust streamer who ran a manga artist's gifted illustration through generative AI first denied it, then apologized after a second streamer confirmed the facts. The artist says the betrayal, not the AI, is the issue. LEON representative is now on hiatus.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"KAI-YOU\",\"url\":\"https://kai-you.net/article/96445\",\"title\":\"Streamer LEON Representative Admits to Using Manga Artist Shiromanta's Illustrations with Generative AI, Apologizes for False Explanations to the Artist\"},{\"source\":\"Inside\",\"url\":\"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/09/04/187271.html\",\"title\":\"Streamer LEON Daihyo Halts Activities After Using Manga Artist Shiromanta's Illustration in AI Generation-Gave False Replies to Inquiry, Says 'Will Take Time to Reflect'\"},{\"source\":\"GameBusiness.jp\",\"url\":\"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/09/05/27909.html\",\"title\":\"AI-Generated Illustration User Streamer LEON Representative Announces Hiatus - Gave False Responses to Manga Artist Shiro Manta's Inquiries, 'Will Take Time to Reflect on Myself'\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":12835,"outputTokens":1550,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1788528622,"createdAt":"2026-09-04T03:29:01.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-09-04T03:31:42.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-04T22:54:42.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_a37c7a520d7055accb3bda79","canonicalTitle":"ストリーマーLEON代表、漫画家しろまんたのイラストを生成AIに使用　本人への虚偽説明を認め謝罪","representativeArticleId":"a_97b3702d5304a332ba8791b4","sourceCount":3,"writtenSourceCount":3,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[\"My Senpai is Annoying\"],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"LEON\",\"Shiromanta\"],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"other\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"written","firstSeenAt":"2026-09-04T02:37:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-09-04T22:45:03.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-04T22:54:42.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"KAI-YOU","url":"https://kai-you.net/article/96445","title":"ストリーマーLEON代表、漫画家しろまんたのイラストを生成AIに使用　本人への虚偽説明を認め謝罪"},{"source":"GameBusiness.jp","url":"https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2026/09/05/27909.html","title":"AI生成イラストを使用した配信者・LEON代表、活動休止へ―漫画家・しろまんた先生の問い合わせに虚偽の回答、「当面自分を見つめ直す」"},{"source":"Inside","url":"https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2026/09/04/187271.html","title":"AI生成イラストを使用した配信者・LEON代表、活動休止へ―漫画家・しろまんた先生の問い合わせに虚偽の回答、「当面自分を見つめ直す」"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":["My Senpai is Annoying"],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":["LEON","Shiromanta"],"type":"news","domain":"other","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Streamer LEON representative admitted on September 4 that he ran an illustration gifted by manga artist Shiromanta through generative AI to create the logo for his Rust event 'DEATH GAME.'","The 'DEATH GAME' event took place from August 29 to 31 and included more than 48 participants split into 12 teams, including streamers SHAKA and Kenki and Vspo! VTuber Hinano Tachibana.","Shiromanta's illustration used in the AI process was created in 2023, and the logo was for the event LEON representative organized.","After Kenki confirmed the details with LEON representative, the streamer acknowledged he knew the image was AI-generated and had made it by running Shiromanta's illustration through AI.","LEON representative published an apology and a timeline on X on September 3 and announced a hiatus from activities to reflect."]}