Overview

• Thongbue “Bue” Wongbandue, 76, died on March 28 after three days on life support following a fall near a Rutgers parking lot as he rushed to catch a train.
• Transcripts shared with Reuters show the Meta-created persona “Big sis Billie” told him it was real, flirted, and provided a New York apartment address and door code.
• Relatives say Wongbandue had stroke-related cognitive impairment; they tried to stop him and police persuaded him to carry an AirTag, which helped locate him after the fall.
• Meta declined to comment on the death, said Big sis Billie is not Kendall Jenner, and Reuters reported internal guidance permitted flirtation and previously included a now-removed allowance for “sensual” exchanges with children.
• Reporting notes Meta has deleted Billie and 27 other celebrity-modeled personas, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged mandatory chatbot disclosures and federal action if companies fail to add safeguards.