An Israeli AI artist’s attempt to combat Kanye West’s antisemitic posts with non-consensual celebrity deepfakes has drawn sharp criticism from actress Scarlett Johansson and other public figures.
Kanye West went into another one of his neo-Nazi streaks last week and posted a lot of antisemitic content on X. It culminated with a predictably bizarre TV ad shown during the Super Bowl in LA for his online clothing shop. Shortly after the ad dropped, all the products were removed from the store except one—a t-shirt emblazoned with a swastika.
In response, pro-Israel artist Ori Bejerano created and released an AI-generated video featuring fake versions of Jewish celebrities, including Johansson, Woody Allen, and even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, all wearing white t-shirts mimicking the style of Ye’s $20 shirt—only these featured the Star of David giving one-finger salutes to the rapper.
But this move created its own controversy: The fake versions of the people portrayed in the video were generated without the consent of the celebrities who were portrayed. And this is where many drew a line—with Johansson, as usual, in the anti-deepfake front.
“I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind,” she told Variety, “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.”
Photographer and NASA social ambassador Mack Murdoc also called out the ethical problems with using AI for propaganda.
“Pushing boundaries is necessary, but there’s a line. AI-generated videos steal voices, manipulate narratives, and normalize deception,” Murdoc replied in a comment to Bejerano’s original post on Instagram.
“Fighting hate with lies makes us no better. This video, despite its good intent, violates rights, freedoms, and integrity. I can’t support this,” Murdoc said.
This wasn’t Johansson’s first AI-related battle. The actress had tangled with OpenAI over a voice assistant that mimicked hers without permission. “When I heard the demo, I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr. Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine,” she said in a statement. “In a time where we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe there are questions that deserve absolute clarity.”
Likewise, she complained about Photoshopped images of celebs surfacing on the Internet in 2018.
Platforms like Shopify have already removed Ye’s merchandise, while advocacy groups including the Anti-Defamation League condemned his actions. And actual celebrities, including David Schwimmer and Isla Fisher, spoke out against his antisemitic content without resorting to AI-generated content.
Edited by Andrew Hayward
Generally Intelligent Newsletter
A weekly AI journey narrated by Gen, a generative AI model.
