The real Scarlett Johansson decries ‘misuse of AI’ by a deepfake video shaming Kanye West
A group of well-known Jews in the entertainment industry, including Scarlett Johansson, Steven Spielberg, Adam Sandler, and others, were imagined by an individual who calls himself a “generative AI expert” to have gathered together, wearing identical T-shirts, in order to publicly reprimand Ye (formerly Kanye West) for his recent antisemitic comments. However, this gathering is purely speculative at this point.
On Tuesday, Ori Bejerano, an Israeli content creator and marketing expert, shared a monochrome video on social platforms. The clip showcased famous figures, deepfaked, donning white T-shirts with a stylized black middle finger superimposed over the word “Kanye.
The design, drawing inspiration from Yee’s latest merchandise featuring the swastika symbol, also encloses the Star of David within its border. These AI-created beings do not speak but perform casual gestures synchronously with a dance remix of the traditional Jewish song “Hava Nagila.
In addition to Bejerano’s video, famous figures such as Jerry Seinfeld, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow from “Friends”, Jack Black, Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mila Kunis, and Ben Stiller are also depicted. Other notable individuals who were deepfaked for the video include Lenny Kravitz, Adam Levine, Drake, Mark Zuckerberg, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Woody Allen.
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Music
Previously known as Kanye West, now referred to as Ye, made inflammatory statements on social media, proclaiming control over Bianca Censori and advocating for the release of Diddy.
Towards the last part of the one-minute video, there appears an AI imitation of Adam Sandler, star of “50 First Dates”, who gives a middle finger gesture and smiles. The video ends with the statement, “That’s enough.
“Join the fight against antisemitism,” the clip adds.
Through his social media posts, Bejerano expressed strong disapproval towards the rapper-businessman for his recent open display of support for Nazism. Additionally, he urged for increased efforts to combat antisemitism in public spheres.
Nevertheless, not all individuals appreciated Bejerano’s AI-centered social media promotion strategy. In contrast to this, Johansson, who is depicted in the viral video as the opening character, expressed dissatisfaction with the “misapplication of AI” in a statement released to The Times on Wednesday.
A video made by AI using my likeness, addressing an antisemitic opinion, has been shared widely on the internet without my consent. As a Jewish woman, I strongly condemn antisemitism and any form of hate speech.
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Entertainment & Arts
Shopify halts Yee’s endeavors following the Super Bowl to market swastika T-shirts on his platform, asserting that the former artist Kanye West breached their guidelines.
I strongly agree that while individual responsibility is crucial, the amplification effect of hate speech through artificial intelligence poses an even bigger danger to our shared reality. Therefore, it’s essential that we remain vigilant and address any misuse of AI, regardless of its content.
She stated, ‘Regrettably, I’ve been a high-profile target of AI technology. However, it’s crucial to understand that the potential danger of AI impacts everyone.’
Last year, actress Scarlett Johansson, known for her roles in “Black Widow” and “Her”, openly criticized the application of artificial intelligence. In May 2024, she enlisted a legal team upon discovering that OpenAI had unauthorizedly produced a ChatGPT voice model resembling hers. The increasing influence of AI remains a significant issue in Hollywood, more than a year after actors and writers voiced their concerns during the labor strikes of 2023.
Johansson in her statement also called for more government oversight of AI.
In a recent post, the Oscar-nominated actor from “Jojo Rabbit” expressed concern about an approaching AI wave of 1000 feet. He noted that while some forward-thinking nations are addressing this issue responsibly, he finds it alarming that the U.S. government seems unable to pass legislation safeguarding its citizens from the immediate risks posed by AI.
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Hollywood Inc.
Notable personalities from Hollywood, such as Mark Hamill of “Star Wars”, director J.J. Abrams, and Fran Drescher (current SAG-AFTRA President), have collectively penned a letter imploring Governor Gavin Newsom to approve the AI safety bill SB 1047.
As a dedicated film enthusiast, I feel compelled to pen this note. I implore the United States government to prioritize the enactment of laws regulating AI usage. This matter transcends political affiliations and has an immense impact on the very fabric of human existence in the near future.
Notably, celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Tom Hanks, and Morgan Freeman have found their appearances and voices imitated using artificial intelligence technology in the past few years.
Bejerano did not immediately reply to The Times when contacted via Facebook on Wednesday.
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2025-02-13 00:01