Matt Le Tissier involved in conspiracy row with Grok after question on plane trails

Jack Otway
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:42:37 +0000

Former Southampton midfielder Matt Le Tissier has found himself at the centre of a fresh controversy after a late-night confrontation with Elon Musk's artificial intelligence system Grok on the social media platform X.

The 57-year-old, who spent his entire professional career at St Mary's between 1986 and 2002, posted the exchange shortly after midnight, questioning whether the chatbot had been "programmed to spout government propaganda".

The dispute arose when Le Tissier posed a question about why certain aircraft vapour trails disappear more rapidly than others, only for Grok to reference chemicals in its response despite no mention of them in the original query.

Le Tissier challenged the AI directly over its approach, accusing it of making assumptions rather than simply addressing his query.

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"Why didn't you just answer my question instead of assuming a certain framing. That leads me to assume you've been programmed to do that I'm afraid, your credibility is shot to pieces," he wrote in one reply.

The former England international pressed further, asking: "Have you been programmed to spout government propaganda or can you think for yourself?"

Hey @grok why do some plane trails disperse quickly while others hang around and spread out to form grey blanket clouds
— Matt Le Tissier ✝️ (@mattletiss7) April 21, 2026

In response, Grok acknowledged that Le Tissier had raised a valid point about the unprompted chemical reference, explaining that its answer was shaped by how aircraft trails are typically discussed in online conversations.

The exchange is the latest in a series of controversies for Le Tissier, who has become increasingly vocal on social media about various theories since retiring from football, though he has previously rejected the label of "conspiracy theorist".

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Back in 2022, he was axed by Sky Sports, where he had worked as a pundit and analyst.

Speaking on The Rob Moore podcast, Le Tissier revealed the abruptness of his exit: "Within five seconds I was told there was no more work for me at Sky."

Despite having approximately seven months remaining on his contract, he was informed his services were no longer required.

"They didn't really give a particular reason, they just said 'the show was going in a different direction' they were the words I think they used," he explained.

Le Tissier also relinquished his position as a Southampton ambassador during 2022, following the removal of social media posts that suggested manipulation by the media in coverage of the conflict in Ukraine.

Announcing his decision to step back from the role, he stated: "My views are my own and always have been, and it's important to take this step today to avoid any confusion."

The Saints legend emphasised his continued affection for the club whilst acknowledging the need for distance.

"I will always remain a fan and supporter of everything Saints. I can, however, see that due to recent events it's important to separate the work I believe in from my relationship with the club," he wrote.