Maria Julissa Denies El Mencho Betrayal as AI-Fabricated Photos Fuel Viral Danger
Mexican influencer Maria Julissa is at the center of one of the most alarming social media misinformation storms of 2026. After the death of notorious cartel leader El Mencho on February 22, 2026 ET, viral posts falsely linked Maria Julissa to his killing — claims she has categorically and publicly denied while pleading with followers to stop spreading fabricated content.
Who Is Maria Julissa?
Maria Julissa was born on September 12, 2000, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. She built her public profile through lifestyle and fashion content, amassing approximately 3.5 million followers on Instagram under the handle @mariajulissa13. Her content spans music, luxury cars, travel, and modeling — earning her the fan nickname "Barbie Beisbolera" for her love of baseball.
Maria Julissa is in a relationship with streamer Stiven TC, whom she publicly declared her love for in December 2025, crediting him with positive emotional change in her life. Prior to this week's controversy, she had no public association with Mexico's cartel world whatsoever.
El Mencho Dies in Military Raid, Rumors Target Maria Julissa Instantly
El Mencho — born Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — died on February 22, 2026 ET, during a Mexican military raid in Jalisco, Mexico. He was the founder and leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, or CJNG, considered one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in the world.
Within hours of the raid, viral posts along with AI-generated photos spread across Spanish-language social media claiming that Maria Julissa was El Mencho's alleged lover and had tipped off authorities to his location. The claims spread with extraordinary speed, accumulating millions of views across TikTok, Facebook, and X before fact-checkers could intervene.
AI-Generated Photos Are Completely Fabricated, Fact-Checkers Confirm
The photos circulating of Maria Julissa alongside El Mencho have been thoroughly debunked. Lead Stories ran each image through Gemini, Google's AI assistant, which determined all or most of each image was generated or edited with Google AI — flagging inconsistent lighting on subjects' faces and unusually smooth skin and hair textures consistent with AI-generated content.
Fact-checkers labeled the photos as fabricated, and no evidence supports the betrayal narrative. Authorities have emphasized that the operation relied on long-term surveillance, not a single tip-off, and officials have not named Maria Julissa in connection with the operation.
Maria Julissa Speaks Out: "Everything Is Completely False"
Maria Julissa broke her silence publicly on February 23, 2026 ET, posting a direct statement to her Instagram. "I want to make it absolutely clear: I have nothing to do with that situation. The information going around is false and unfounded. I ask that you all not fall for fake news and always look to reliable sources and officials," she wrote, urging followers to report fabricated pages spreading the false content.
In a second Instagram story, Maria Julissa pleaded with followers to help take down the fake Facebook pages spreading the manipulated images, writing in all caps that the content was totally false. She thanked those who reached out to her directly before amplifying the unverified claims.
CJNG Threatens Maria Julissa as Safety Crisis Escalates
The situation rapidly became a personal safety emergency. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel issued a public threat against Maria Julissa via a banner — a chilling development that underscored how quickly AI-driven misinformation can cross into real-world danger.
The 25-year-old influencer from Sonora publicly noted that the scale of her exposure — roughly 3.5 million followers on her main Instagram — increases the risk that manipulated materials will spread quickly and attract real-world consequences for herself and her family. She has since called on followers to report all false content immediately.
Officials Confirm Maria Julissa Had No Role in the El Mencho Operation
Mexican government authorities have been unambiguous. The Mexican government maintained the raid was based on months of gathered intelligence, with no public figures implicated, and violence continues in Jalisco as CJNG factions jostle for power following El Mencho's death.
Mexico's Defence Secretary Ricardo Trevilla told reporters that one of El Mencho's lovers helped Mexican agents track down the cartel boss — but officials have not confirmed the identity of that person as Maria Julissa or anyone connected to her. The case has reignited an urgent global conversation about AI-generated disinformation and the devastating speed at which fabricated content can destroy reputations and endanger lives.
