A video featuring a string of celebrities wearing an anti-Kanye West t-shirt is going viral, but it isn’t what it seems. Actress Scarlett Johansson is not at all happy about it.
The video includes celebrities such as David Schwimmer, Steven Spielberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Scarlett Johansson, Sacha Baron Cohen, and more. However, despite their faces appearing in the video, none of them actually participated in its creation. The entire video is a deep fake generated using artificial intelligence tools.
The ad, created by Israeli generative AI expert Ori Bejerano, criticizes rapper and fashion mogul Kanye West for alleged antisemitism. Each of the “celebrities” in the ad is depicted wearing a white t-shirt featuring Kanye’s name beneath a drawing of a hand flipping the middle finger. However, none of the stars had any involvement in the project.
Some of the celebrities featured in the manipulated video have publicly criticized West. Just this week, Friends star David Schwimmer urged X chief Elon Musk to ban West from the social media platform due to antisemitic posts. However, whether or not they support the video’s message, none of them appear to have been contacted by Bejerano for permission to use their likenesses.
Scarlett Johansson is particularly upset about her inclusion in the AI-generated video. The Black Widow star issued a statement to People magazine condemning the use of AI to manipulate her image.
“It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an A.I.-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an antisemitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction,” Johansson said.
“I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind. But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by A.I. is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it,” she stated.
Johansson warned about the broader dangers of AI-generated content. “We must call out the misuse of A.I., no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality,” she said.
She also criticized the U.S. government for its inaction on AI regulation. “It is terrifying that the U.S. government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of A.I. I urge the U.S. government to make the passing of legislation limiting A.I. use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large.”
Johansson has been a vocal critic of AI misuse. In 2023, she sued the maker of a video that used her likeness without permission. Last year, she condemned OpenAI for offering a voice program that sounded suspiciously like her own. Her latest statement underscores the growing concern over AI’s impact on privacy, ethics, and digital identity.
