Cheerleader’s mom accused of making ‘deepfake’ photos to embarrass daughter’s rivals

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. —  A Pennsylvania woman is accused of doctoring photos and video of her daughter’s cheerleading rivals to try to get them kicked off the squad, officials said.

The Bucks County district attorney’s office last week charged Raffaela Spone, 50, with three misdemeanor counts of cyber-harassment of a child and related offenses.

Investigators say that Spone manipulated photos from social media of three girls on the Victory Vipers cheerleading squad in Chalfont to make it appear they were drinking, smoking and even nude.

Spone also sent messages with the so-called “deepfake” pictures to the girls and suggested that they kill themselves, officials said.

Spone’s attorney, Robert Birch, told WPVI-TV that the district attorney had not presented any evidence.

“She has absolutely denied what they’re charging her with, and because of the fact that this has hit the press, she has received death threats. She has had to go to the police herself, they have a report,” Birch said. “Her life has been turned upside down.”

The cheerleading team expressed sympathy for the families involved and said the team has a “very strict anti-bullying policy.”