New York Times adds fresh detail to Collien Fernandes case
The New York Times has published new reporting on Collien Fernandes' allegations against Christian Ulmen, citing months of interviews plus emails, documents, and digital traces. Collien Fernandes told the paper Ulmen created fake profiles in her name and contacted men online, including sexual content—fueling a wider fight over digital violence, AI tools, and accountability.
The case first broke in spring 2026 after Der Spiegel reporting and has since drawn global attention. For context on how tech and society collide, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
Key Takeaways
- The NYT spoke with Fernandes over several months and reviewed documents and digital evidence.
- An email to Ulmen's lawyer allegedly admits sexual online contact with about 30 men using her identity.
- ChatGPT logs cited in the story reportedly show Ulmen asking how to delete emails without witness-tampering risk.
- Proceedings started in Spain were transferred to German authorities; multiple investigations remain open.
- Fernandes says her 14-year-old daughter broke contact after a conversation between Ulmen and the teen.
What did the New York Times reveal about the Ulmen case?
According to n-tv's summary of the NYT investigation, Fernandes accuses Ulmen of building fake profiles under her name for years and using them to contact men. Sexual material was allegedly sent through those accounts.
Among the documents the NYT reviewed is an email Ulmen reportedly sent his attorney. In it, he allegedly admitted to sexual online contact with roughly 30 men while posing as Fernandes and expressed regret. One contact was said to be an insurance agent the couple knew professionally.
Fernandes told the paper Ulmen confessed in a hotel room in December 2024, after she filed a police report about the accounts. She said he compared the behavior to watching pornography mixed with "elements from reality" and claimed curiosity about which men were interested in her.
How does AI factor into the Collien Fernandes allegations?
The reporting highlights a newer wrinkle: ChatGPT conversation logs Fernandes reportedly possesses. In them, Ulmen allegedly asked the chatbot how to persuade men to delete emails without the act being treated as influencing potential witnesses.
That detail matters beyond celebrity gossip. It shows how generative AI can enter alleged cover-up planning—not just content creation. Ulmen's lawyer strongly denied deepfake video claims, noting Fernandes had not made that accusation; the NYT said Ulmen did not respond to its inquiry.
Why did Fernandes' daughter break contact?
The public fight has spilled into Fernandes' family life. She wrote on social media that her 14-year-old daughter ended contact after a conversation with Ulmen, calling the break "based on lies." Fernandes said shared custody visits stopped after that talk and that she has not seen her daughter for weeks.
She had said she went public partly to show her daughter that victims should defend themselves against digital abuse. A former nanny claimed in an RTL interview the teen did not want the allegations aired publicly. Fernandes called that a false statement but said she still hopes to reconcile.
What happens next—and why did Berlin rally?
Legally, the story is unfinished. The case pursued in Spain was handed to German justice. German authorities are also investigating suspected domestic bodily harm and continuing to examine digital-violence claims. Ulmen denies some allegations; his legal team has challenged media portrayals.
Public pressure has grown alongside the reporting. A separate source noted thousands demonstrated in Berlin in solidarity with Collien Fernandes as the digital-violence debate widened. Together, the NYT revelations, street protests, and family rupture keep the case at the center of Europe's conversation about online impersonation and consent.