AI-Generated Video Sparks Controversy in Fight Against Antisemitism

Kanye West Viral Video Creator Defends Portraying AI Celebrities Without Permission

'The Rings of Power' Officially Renewed for Season 3, Plans Major Time Jump The co-creator of a viral video using AI-generated celebrities to protest Kanye West's antisemitism is defending his decision to use the stars' likenesses without permission. In an interview released Feb. 13, the Israeli founder of an AI tech hub called Elevaitor expanded on his previous statements about the video's creation. The video created a sensation when it was released earlier this week and depicted Jewish A-listers wearing a white shirt slamming West for his long history of antisemitic statements and his attempt to sell a swastika T-shirt. The co-creator, Guy Bar, was asked by The Jewish Chronicle (video below), "A lot of the celebrities that are in the video haven't actually stood up against anti semitism. Was there a conscious decision to use those celebrities instead of Jewish activists?" Replied Bar: "It had to be [created] very, very fast. If you take time [after West's T-shirt controversy], it wouldn't be relevant. You must make very quick decisions. They are very famous. They are the most famous Jewish [celebrities] in the world. They are very relevant to Kanye West's world. In a perfect world, the real [people would be] doing [the video with] their voice. I wish they would share it and say, 'We definitely agree with this video, we want to spread it all over." Some of the top reactions to Bar's statement were critical of his reasoning: "I love the video but they needed permission," wrote one. While another opined: "However important this dude believes his video response is, or however important the message, using images of people who have not signed up or consented is wrong. Anyone could pull anyone into a campaign that they have no knowledge of. The creator of the video thinks he can just play God with AI and whatever he does is justified. It's a weird paradox of reactively fighting a celeb Nazi with an unethical form of representation." Previously Bar said to The Jerusalem Post that he was able to create the video in about 24 hours. "We expected the video to gain traction, but we didn't anticipate just how massive it would become," he said. "We believe its impact comes from the fact that it touches a raw nerve for so many people worldwide - people who are tired of violence, exhausted by racism, and fed up with antisemitism ... All the public figures featured in the video are Jewish ... We wanted to use their voices, so to speak, to tell Kanye West: 'Your antisemitism and incitement to violence have crossed every possible line. Enough is enough.'" Scarlett Johansson, who is among those portrayed, previously released a statement criticizing the unauthorized use of her likeness: "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. We must call out the misuse of A.I., no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality." Below is the original video, which shows celebrities such as David Schwimmer, Steven Spielberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Sacha Baron Cohen and more. Both Schwimmer and Isla Fischer had previously spoken out about West's stunt on their own Instagram feeds. On Sunday night, Yeezy bought Super Bowl ad time in some local markets. His bizarre commercial showed West in his dentist's chair showing off his diamond-encrusted teeth. "I spent like all the money for the commercial on these new teeth," he said. "Once again I had to shoot it on the iPhone. Um, go to Yeezy.com." But the website only offered one item: A $20 white T-shirt with a black swastika. During West's subsequent tweet spree, the rapper also declared that he loved Hitler and called himself a Nazi. Later that day, Shopify shut down West's brand's ecommerce website, telling The Hollywood Reporter in a statement about the removal that Yeezy.com violated policy

AI-created clip featuring Jewish celebs takes swing at Kanye West...

An AI-generated video emerged on social media Tuesday that features scores of Jewish celebrities like Scarlett Johansson and Adam Sandler speaking out against disgraced rapper Kanye West over his blatant antisemitism. The minute-clip, which was created by an Israeli generative AI expert, according to Jewish Telegraphic Agency, takes a swing at West, 47, who has faced renewed outrage for trying to hawk swastika shirts and spewing hateful views on social media over the past week The deepfake footage with a version of "Hava Nagila" features more than 20 actors, musical artists, entrepreneurs and comedians wearing a white t-shirt that has the middle finger flipped off and a Star of David in the middle of the hand with West's first name right below it. An AI-generated Sandler then gives the actual finger near the end of the montage before the message "Enough Is Enough," cuts in. "It's time to stop being silent and respond to anti-Semites like Kanye West in the strongest way possible," the video creator, Ori Bejerano, wrote in a caption on Instagram where he shared the video. "We must demand from the social networks to stop giving stage to antisemitism and hatred." He also said economic and public pressure need to be applied to West and others "for spreading their poison." Using celebrities' likeness in AI has become a growing - and controversial - trend in recent years. Last year, Johansson called out a ChatGPT voice from Sam Altman's OpenAI that sounded "eerily similar" to her after the actress turned down an offer from the tech company to use her voice. The speaking voice was ultimately pulled. Notable deep-fake celebrities in video - which has racked up millions of views on social media - include Drake, Jerry Seinfeld, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Black, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Steven Spielberg, Mila Kunis, Ben Stiller and David Schwimmer. The actual Schwimmer slammed West in an Instagram post over the weekend. "I don't know what's worse, the fact that he identifies as a Nazi (which implies he wants to exterminate ALL marginalized communities including his own) or the fact that there is not sufficient OUTRAGE to remove and ban him from all social media at this point," he wrote. West went on a four-day tirade filled with despicable remarks over social media, including praising Adolf Hitler and calling himself a Nazi before he deleted his X account earlier this month. Then in an ad that ran during the Super Bowl, West directed viewers to a merch store that offered just one product -- a $20 swastika shirt. He's faced backlash before for past antisemitic comments that have caused companies to dump his brand.

Celebrities Protest Kanye West in Fake AI Video; Scarlett Johansson Makes Statement

Top Hollywood stars have banded together to protest Kanye West's antisemitism -- sort of. A viral video (below) depicts Jewish celebrities such as David Schwimmer, Steven Spielberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Scarlett Johansson, Sacha Baron Cohen and others wearing an anti-Kanye T-shirt. The video follows West's unhinged antisemitic comments on social media and selling a white T-shirt on his website that was branded with a swastika, following a bait-and-switch Super Bowl ad. The video concludes with the words "Enough is Enough" and "Join the Fight Against Antisemitism." Except this protest video was actually generated using AI, and now at least one of the celebrities portrayed is speaking out. In a statement to People, Johansson objected to deepfake video, regardless of its intentions: "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. 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. We must call out the misuse of A.I., no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality." Which isn't to say that none of the actors in the video have protested West's actions in real life. Actress Isla Fisher is rendered in the video and previously wrote on Instagram about the T-shirt sales: "Hey friends, can you please unfollow Kanye? Did you know this is the only thing for sale on his website after placing a Super Bowl commercial? F-k this monster forever. No Tolerance for this s-t." While Schwimmer took to Instagram to call on X boss Elon Musk to remove the rapper's account: "We can't stop a deranged bigot from spewing hate-filled, ignorant bile...but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr. Musk. Kanye West has 32.7 million followers on your platform, X. That's twice as many people than the number of Jews in existence. His sick hate speech results in REAL LIFE violence against Jews." During West's tweet spree, the rapper also declared that he loved Hitler and called himself a Nazi. On Tuesday, West's X account was deactivated as he wrote: "I'm logging out of Twitter (now X). I appreciate Elon for allowing me to vent. It has been very cathartic to use the world as a sounding board." Later that day, Shopify shut down West's brand's ecommerce website, telling The Hollywood Reporter in a statement about the removal that Yeezy.com violated policy. "All merchants are responsible for following the rules of our platform. This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms so we removed them from Shopify," the spokesperson said.

Has the whole Hollywood gone against Kanye West? A-list stars seemingly 'flip the bird' at rapper in viral AI video

A new viral AI-generated video has set social media on fire, depicting a slew of Hollywood A-listers seemingly turning on Kanye West following his latest offensive antics. The video appears to show stars such as Jerry Seinfeld, David Schwimmer, Adam Sandler, Scarlett Johansson, and Drake wearing white t-shirts emblazoned with a graphic of a hand giving the middle finger beneath a Star of David and the name "Kanye." The video's timing couldn't be more provocative, following West's recent Super Bowl ad controversy and the subsequent shutdown of his Yeezy e-commerce site. The rapper, now known as Ye, found himself at the center of outrage after a bizarre Super Bowl ad directed viewers to his Yeezy website. There, a t-shirt featuring a swastika design labeled "HH-01" -- a code the Anti-Defamation League linked to "Heil Hitler" -- was listed for sale. The offensive item was swiftly condemned, and e-commerce platform Shopify shut down his site. In the aftermath, the AI video surfaced online, further fueling the public backlash. While many praised its pointed message, the use of celebrity likenesses without consent has sparked a fierce debate. Despite the video's impact, none of the stars featured had approved the use of their likenesses. Yet the AI-generated images show the actors smiling, pointing at the t-shirts, and seemingly endorsing the message. Some viewers applauded the video as a bold response to West's offensive behavior, calling it "fantastic" on social media. However, others were quick to question the ethics behind it. "Using AI to reproduce a celebrity's likeness to sell t-shirts without permission? That's a legal and moral minefield," one X user commented. Another added, "Did you even get the celebrities' consent for this? You can't just do that, even for a cause like this." Even beyond the video, several celebrities have directly condemned West for his recent behavior. Isla Fisher, who converted to Judaism when she married Sacha Baron Cohen, called him a "monster" in a fiery Instagram post. Sharing an image of the Yeezy t-shirt, Fisher urged her followers to unfollow West, writing, "F--- this monster forever. No tolerance for this s---." David Schwimmer, who was featured prominently in the AI video, also weighed in publicly. In a post on X, the Friends star branded West a "deranged bigot" and criticized his "hate speech" for inciting real-life violence. Schwimmer even called on X CEO Elon Musk to deactivate West's account, stating, "Silence is complicity." Before his X account was taken down, West used his final post to thank Elon Musk for "letting him vent" on the platform, further fanning the flames of the controversy. As the fallout from Kanye West's latest behavior continues, the viral AI video has added a new dimension to the debate over free speech, hate speech, and the ethical boundaries of AI technology. Whether intentional or not, Hollywood's message to Kanye is clear: enough is enough.

Celebrities Scarlett Johansson, Adam Sandler insult Kanye in AI video

AI puts Jewish stars in anti-Kanye video: Spielberg, Allen among celebs whose likenesses were used without consent in viral middle-finger message against antisemitism. A video released on social media on Tuesday shows a wide array of Jewish celebrities, including Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen, wearing a T-shirt with a raised middle finger and the word "Kanye" -- a rejection of the rapper Kanye West's antisemitism. The video resembles any number of PSAs created by Jewish advocates, with one catch: None of the celebrities consented to participating. That's because the video was made with generative AI, an emerging technology that instantly creates lifelike animation, opening new frontiers for creativity while also raising ethical questions about what can be rendered and how such products should be labeled. Released on Instagram by Ori Bejerano, an Israeli generative AI entrepreneur, the video spread rapidly on Tuesday, riding a wave of anger at West and frustration over his persistence as a presence in the public sphere despite a years-long record of antisemitism. Over the last week, West posted a string of antisemitic tweets, then paid for a Super Bowl ad directing viewers to a website that sold just one product: a $20 T-shirt with a swastika on it. Over a techno version of "Hava Nagila," about two dozen celebrities appear in the video. Each wears a shirt -- perfectly form-fitting, thanks to AI -- that echoes the swastika design in its simplicity, except it shows a raised middle finger with a Star of David inside it, above the word "KANYE." Then the celebrities fade out and text appears: "Enough is Enough. Join the Fight Against Antisemitism." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ori Bejerano (@oribejerano_ai) Bejerano's caption, written in Hebrew, lists reasons why West's antics are offensive and calls for social networks to stop amplifying antisemitism and allowing people like West to "spread their poison." (After his antisemitic X spree, West thanked owner Elon Musk for "allowing me to vent.") The post does not endorse any specific organization's efforts to fight antisemitism, though it tags the accounts of several pro-Israel influencers and organizations, including StandWithUs, Noa Tishby and the Combat Antisemitism Movement. It also does not label the video as AI-generated, though Bejerano's Instagram handle is "oribejerano_ai." Some of the celebrities, such as David Schwimmer, have been vocal in opposing antisemitism. Others, including Adam Sandler, who ends the video by offering his own obscene gesture, have not been outspoken on the issue since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel unleashed a wave of antisemitism around the world. Celebrity likeness in artificial intelligence At least one celebrity shown in the video, Scarlett Johansson, has previously sued to block the use of her AI-generated likeness. There were signs that at least some of the celebrities spoofed in the video might be on board with it. Jessica Seinfeld, the cookbook author and wife of Jerry Seinfeld, who is shown pointing to his shirt and smiling, liked the video on Instagram. Stay updated with the latest news! Subscribe to The Jerusalem Post Newsletter Subscribe Now Also included in the video: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, the 1960s-era singer-songwriter duo, together again for the first time in more than a decade; the rapper Drake, who this week stood at the center of a different Super Bowl controversy; and Sam Altman, the AI entrepreneur who is currently tangling with Musk. Bejerano's numerous previous AI videos have poked fun at Israel's far-right ministers and offered up an Israeli version of "The Simpsons." And a different Israeli AI entrepreneur recently used the technology to imagine peace in the Middle East.

The Israeli behind the AI video against Kanye West's antisemitism

"We expected the video to gain traction, but we didn't anticipate just how massive it would become," says Guy Bar, the founder of AI tech hub Elevaitor. Finally. A roster of Hollywood's A-list Jews are taking a stand against antisemitism, specifically Kanye West's latest barrage of attacks against Jews. Over the last week, West posted a string of antisemitic tweets, then paid for a Super Bowl ad directing viewers to a website that sold just one product: a $20 t-shirt with a swastika on it. Over a techno version of "Hava Nagila," about two dozen celebrities - from Jerry Seinfeld and Woody Allen to Scarlett Johansen, Mark Zuckerberg, and Simon & Garfunkel (together!) - appear in a video, wearing plain white t's echoing West's, featuring a raised middle finger with a Star of David inside it, and above the word "KANYE." Then the celebrities fade out, and text appears: "Enough is Enough. Join the Fight Against Antisemitism." The celebrity video went viral, with proud Jews and Kanye detractors sharing it far and wide on Facebook, X, and other social media platforms. Generative AI video The only problem? It wasn't real. Instead, it was expertly created by an Israeli team of generative AI entrepreneurs, an emerging technology that instantly creates lifelike animation, opening new frontiers for creativity while also raising ethical questions about what can be rendered and how such products should be labeled. "We expected the video to gain traction, but we didn't anticipate just how massive it would become," says Guy Bar, the founder of AI tech hub Elevaitor (CORRECT SP), who developed the video together with co-creator Ori Bejerano. "We believe its impact comes from the fact that it touches a raw nerve for so many people worldwide - people who are tired of violence, exhausted by racism, and fed up with antisemitism. The video we created was simply the spark that ignited a fire that had been waiting to burn for a long time." The vibe of the clip resembles the high-budget ads that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has financed for screening during recent Super Bowls. Bar said that he and Bejerano deliberately chose a very understated video style that is "completely opposite to the aggressive and provocative way Kanye West expresses himself. However, the quietness of the video is exactly what makes it so powerful." "Even the music choice is deeply meaningful. It's a well-known melody strongly associated with Jewish culture - originally a happy and optimistic song. We created a more modern, updated version of it. Choosing this song is a statement in itself: we are not afraid of people like Kanye West, and we will always remain joyful and optimistic," Bar added. Some of the celebrities in the clip, such as David Schwimmer, have been vocal in opposing antisemitism. Others, including Adam Sandler, who ends the video by offering his own obscene gesture, have not been outspoken on the issue since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel unleashed a wave of antisemitism around the world. At least one celebrity shown in the video, Scarlett Johansson, has previously sued to block the use of her AI-generated likeness. Stay updated with the latest news! Subscribe to The Jerusalem Post Newsletter Subscribe Now "All the public figures featured in the video are Jewish. But beyond that, they are part of Kanye West's own social and cultural environment -- part of his world. We wanted to use their voices, so to speak, to tell Kanye West: your antisemitism and incitement to violence have crossed every possible line. Enough is enough," said Bar, adding that the video took 24 hours to create from start to finish. However, the commonality between all the participants is that, whether they agreed with the message or not, none of them agreed to have their images used. Bar said that he has not been approached or warned by any of the celebrities' representatives. Powerful message "This video exists in the realm of art, culture, and creativity -- not commerce. There is no commercial element to it, no attempt to sell anything other than promoting an important social message," he said. "We believe that the individuals featured in the video will identify with it and with the powerful message it conveys." There were signs that at least some of the celebrities spoofed in the video might be on board with it. Jessica Seinfeld, the cookbook author and wife of Jerry Seinfeld, who is shown pointing to his shirt and smiling, liked the video on Instagram. Even when the video was outed as being AI and not genuine, people continued to share it on Wednesday. "AI or not, I feel a little better," said Jerusalem-based media personality and author Sarah Tuttle Singer.

Viral AI video depicts celebrities protesting Ye's antisemitic remarks

An AI-generated video depicting celebrities -- including Scarlett Johansson, Jerry Seinfeld and Adam Sandler -- protesting Ye's antisemitic comments has gone viral online, prompting criticism from Johansson over the "misuse of AI," regardless of its message. The video depicts more than a dozen celebrities wearing a T-shirt featuring a middle finger with a Star of David inside it and "Kanye" below, referring to Kanye West, who now goes by Ye. The black-and-white footage is set to an AI remix of the popular Jewish folk song "Hava Nagila." The video and audio were created and posted online by Guy Bar and Ori Bejerano, who work together at an AI company in Israel. Bar said the video -- which has amassed tens of thousands of views -- was made with multiple AI generators. Bar said the video was made in response to Ye's recent actions, including posting a flurry of antisemitic remarks on X and selling T-shirts on his website bearing a swastika. Ye's X account and website have since been taken down. Bar said he wanted the video to feature Jewish celebrities so they could send the message to Ye that "enough is enough." He said he has not been contacted by any of the celebrities whose likenesses are used in the video. Johansson, whose likeness is featured in the opening shot of the video, raised concerns about the video, calling it a "misuse of AI" as she called for regulatory legislation on AI. "It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an AI-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an antisemitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction. 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 AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality," Johansson said in a statement to CBS News. Johansson has been the target of AI-generated sex videos and was in a dispute last year with OpenAI after she said the company's ChatGPT text-to-speech product sounded "eerily similar" to her voice. "I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI, but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us," her statement said. "There is a 1000 foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner. It is terrifying that the US government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI. "I urge the U.S. government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large," Johansson said. When asked about Johansson's response to the celebrity protest video, Bar said he supports "responsible AI" and discussions on the ethical and legal impacts of the technology. Bar said the video was not made to "mislead or exploit anyone" but rather to start a conversation about the rise of hate speech. "Throughout history, art has been a tool for social change, and AI is simply a new medium that enables impactful storytelling," he said.

Scarlett Johansson, AI Enthusiasts Slam Anti-Kanye West Video That Used Celeb Deepfakes - Decrypt

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.

Scarlett Johansson responds after her likeness is used in AI video of celebrities condemning Kanye West's antisemitism

The AI-generated clip shows celebrities such as Johansson, Ben Stiller, Mila Kunis and Steven Spielberg wearing white T-shirts featuring the Star of David inside a hand sticking up its middle finger above Kanye's name. Scarlett Johansson has condemned the use of AI after her likeness was used in a viral video of celebrities condemning Kanye West's antisemitism. The AI-generated clip shows celebrities such as Johansson, Ben Stiller, Mila Kunis and Steven Spielberg wearing white T-shirts featuring the Star of David inside a hand sticking up its middle finger above Kanye's name. It finishes with an AI version of Adam Sandler sticking his middle finger up at the camera and the words: "Enough is enough. Join the fight to end antisemitism." But Johansson released a statement about "the misuse of AI", writing: "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 AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. "We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality." She added: "I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI, but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us." She called on the US government to do more to limit AI, adding: "There is a 1,000ft wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner. It is terrifying that the US government is paralysed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI. "I urge the US government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large." Read more from Sky News: US defence secretary signals dramatic shift in military policy Killer of MP was 'exited' from Prevent 'too quickly', review finds NHS trust fined over 'catalogue of failures' Controversy surrounding swastika T-shirts It comes amid a backlash after West, also known as Ye, sold T-shirts featuring a swastika and wrote a series of antisemitic messages on X. On Sunday the US rapper bought a Super Bowl advert which directed people to his website, which featured nothing but a single white T-shirt with a swastika on the front alongside the code "HH-01" - which the Anti-Defamation League (ADF) said was code for "Heil Hitler". The ADF described the shirt, which was on sale for $20 (£16) as "further proof" of West's antisemitism. The e-commerce platform Spotify, which hosts many online shops and businesses, later deactivated his site. In an emailed statement to Sky News' partner network NBC News, Shopify said: "All merchants are responsible for following the rules of our platform. This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms so we removed them from Shopify." Antisemitic online posts In recent days West posted antisemitic messages on X, as well as "I love Hitler" and "I'm a Nazi". His account then had a "sensitive content warning" added before he deactivated it on Monday. His spokesperson Milo Yiannopoulos said: "Ye is an intergenerational artist and icon who continues to redefine the limits of creativity and free expression. He has deactivated his X account for the time being." The Campaign Against Antisemitism was joined by Friends star David Schwimmer, who features in the AI video, in calling for Elon Musk to remove West from X over a string of offensive posts.

Scarlett Johansson calls out 'misuse of AI' after fake video of her...

The "Black Widow" actress, 40, urged the government to limit artificial intelligence in response to a fake viral video that features Johansson and other Jewish celebrities condemning Kanye West's antisemitism. The clip, which was reportedly created by Israeli generative AI expert Ori Bejerano, shows more than 20 stars wearing a white t-shirt that has the middle finger flipped off and a Star of David in the middle of the hand with West's first name right below it. Johansson denounced the fake footage in a statement to People on Wednesday. "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," she said. "I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind," the mom of two continued. "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. We must call out the misuse of A.I., no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality." Johansson added, "I have unfortunately been a very public victim of A.I., but the truth is that the threat of A.I. affects each and every one of us." "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," Johansson said. "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." As Johansson mentioned, she's been a victim of AI before. Last year, the Oscar nominee called out a ChatGPT voice from Sam Altman's OpenAI that sounded "eerily similar" to her after the actress turned down an offer from the tech company to use her voice. The speaking voice was ultimately pulled. The new deepfake footage that features Johansson was shared online after West, 47, sparked outrage for trying to sell swastika shirts on his Yeezy website and spewing hateful views on social media. The Post has reached out to Johansson's rep for comment. Played to a version of the Jewish folk song "Hava Nagila," the clip includes Drake, Jerry Seinfeld, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Black, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Steven Spielberg, Mila Kunis, Ben Stiller, and David Schwimmer all calling out West with their t-shirts. The minute-video ends with the AI-generated Sandler giving the middle finger before the message "Enough Is Enough," cuts in. Bejerano shared the clip on Instagram and wrote, "It's time to stop being silent and respond to anti-Semites like Kanye West in the strongest way possible." The actual Schwimmer slammed West in an Instagram post over the weekend for his antisemitic behavior. "I don't know what's worse, the fact that he identifies as a Nazi (which implies he wants to exterminate ALL marginalized communities including his own) or the fact that there is not sufficient OUTRAGE to remove and ban him from all social media at this point," the "Friends" star wrote. West recently went on a four-day-long rant on X where he praised Adolf Hitler, called himself a Nazi and denied that antisemitism is real. He has since deleted his X account. Then in an ad that ran during the Super Bowl, West directed viewers to a merch store that offered just one product -- a $20 swastika shirt. The rapper has been dropped by his talent agency over the controversy, while Shopify deleted his Yeezy store selling the antisemitic shirt. The Anti-Defamation League also condemned West and said in a statement that "there's no excuse" for his behavior.

Scarlett Johansson Slams 'Misuse of AI' in Deepfake Video About Kanye's Antisemitism

Jack White Drops New Live EP, Offers College Students $20 Concert Tickets Scarlett Johansson spoke out against a new AI-generated video that used her fake likeness, as well as the fake likenesses of other prominent Jewish celebrities, to criticize Kanye West over his latest string of antisemitic remarks. Along with Johansson, the video features deepfakes of Drake, Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Spielberg, Mark Zuckerberg, Adam Sandler, Simon and Garfunkel, Lisa Kudrow, and Woody Allen. All are are wearing a T-shirt with a hand holding up a middle finger with "Kanye" written beneath. Johansson, who has been an outspoken critic of AI-generated deepfakes, slammed the visual in a statement shared with People. While Johansson stated plainly that she has "no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech," her main focus was what she called "the misuse of AI, no matter what it's messaging." The actress continued, "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 AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality." The creators of the clip -- Ori Bejerano, a self-described "Generative AI Expert" who works at a marketing agency in Tel Aviv, and Guy Bar, founder of an AI tech hub called Elevaitor -- reportedly did not obtain the permission of any celebrity shown in the clip. In an interview with The Jerusalem Post published today (Feb. 12), Bar said they had not yet heard from anybody's representative, either. Bejerano did not immediately return a request for comment on Johansson's statement. Johansson, for her part, also noted the other times she was "a very public victim of AI." That includes an incident last year where OpenAI appeared to use a voice similar to hers for ChatGPT 4.0. Johansson said she'd previously received an offer from ChatGPT to use her voice, which she declined. "There is a 1000-foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner," Johansson said. "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 AI. I urge the U.S. government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large."

Scarlett Johansson Calls for New AI Laws After Fake Video of Her Goes Viral

Scarlett Johansson is calling for the U.S. government to reign in AI after she was featured in an anti-Kanye West video that’s going viral on social media. The AI-generated video features prominent celebrities including Johansson, Drake, Natalie Portman, Steven Speilberg, Sam Altman, and Woody Allen all wearing a white T-shirt bearing a cartoon middle finger that contains a Star of David. The finger floats above the word “KANYE.†The video is a reaction to rapper West’s Super Bowl stunt. The pro-Nazi rapper bought ad space during the big game to drive people to his personal website. After the ad aired, West changed the website into a storefront with one item: a white T-shirt with a swastika on it. Shopify pulled the storefront after it went live. At first blush, the AI-generated video seems authentic. It opens on Johansson and is the kind of corny celeb-driven response we’ve come to expect. But the tell-tale signs of AI are there: bodies that don’t match faces, younger versions of celebs, and strange artifacts. Johansson was upset. “It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends that an AI-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an antisemitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction. 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 AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality,†Johansson said in a statement to People. She said she’d been a victim of AI before and that there was a reckoning coming, one that the U.S. was ignoring. “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 AI,†she said. Johansson was the voice of an advanced AI chatbot in the 2013 film Her. Since then, Sam Altman has been obsessed with making her the voice of ChatGPT. To hear her tell it, Altman and OpenAI approached her to be the voice of the chatbot and she refused. When OpenAI released its voiced ChatGPT model, one of the options sounded suspiciously like the actress and she sued. After Johansson went public, OpenAI pulled the voice. “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 said at the end of her statement to People about the AI video going viral. The video is the work of Ori Bejerano, a self-professed â€~Generative AI Expert’ and an employee at the Tel Aviv-based ad firm Gitam BBDO. As of this writing, the video is still up. Bejerano is even taking a victory lap and posting news hits about his viral success on his timeline. There are videos and images on that Instagram account that are way more messed up than a fake video calling out West’s antisemitism though. The bulk of his account is weird AI-generated slop. You’ve got all the hits: Bejerano casting himself as a noble astronaut, as a Roman bust next to inspirational quotes, and as Superman. He’s also got a disturbing video where far-right Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir watches Teletubbies and falls asleep imagining a world where Donald Trump turns Gaza into Disneyland.

ScarJo Condemns Deepfake of Her Protesting Kanye Ad As 'Misuse' of AI

(Credit: Samir Hussein / Contributor / WireImage via Getty Images) Scarlett Johansson is speaking out after someone used her likeness without permission to create an AI-generated video of the actress criticizing Kanye West's antisemitic Super Bowl commercial. The video shows an AI-generated Johansson and several other celebrities -- Jerry Seinfeld, Mila Kunis, Jack Black, Drake -- and tech founders Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin wearing white T-shirts featuring a middle finger, a Star of David, and the word KANYE. "Enough is enough," the clip ends. "Join the fight against antisemitism." West's Super Bowl commercial directed viewers to the website for his Yeezy clothing brand. But those who visited Yeezy.com instead saw only one item: a $20 T-shirt with a Swastika on it. Johansson, who is Jewish, condemned West's commercial but also said there is no acceptable use of someone's likeness without their permission and urged the US government to pass legislation that protects its citizens against deepfakes. Johansson's agent provided her full statement to PCMag under the condition we would run it in its entirety: "It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an AI-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an anti-Semitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction. 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 AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality. I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI, but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us. There is a 1,000-foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner. It is terrifying that the US government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI. I urge the US government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large." The deepfake video was originally posted by X user Ori Bejerano, who called out West for the Super Bowl ad as well as posts on X in which West declared "I am a Nazi," praised Hitler, and spread antisemitic conspiracy theories. It's still on X as of this writing; a Community Note about it being AI-generated was only added to a separate tweet sharing Bejerano's video. This is the second time Johansson has spoken out about the misuse of AI. In May 2024, OpenAI released a demo of its AI-powered "Sky" voice assistant that sounded a lot like the actress. She accused the company of using her voice without permission, revealing that she turned down an offer from CEO Sam Altman to use her voice. OpenAI insists it found another voice actor, but it still disabled the Sky voice. In both instances, there are sexual overtones to the use of Johansson's likeness. In the social media video about West's commercial, she appears in the first frame with tussled hair and a tight-fitting T-shirt. In the case of OpenAI, Altman wanted to use her voice to recreate the movie Her, in which the main character falls in love with Johansson's voice inside a computer. Sexualized AI content has been a particular issue. In July, Meta failed to take down a naked AI photo of a female user in a timely fashion. High school students have also spoken out against the spread of explicit images of them at school, CNN reports. But AI-generated videos come in all shapes and sizes, especially as new tools make them free to produce. After the Kansas City Chiefs lost the Super Bowl, creators spun up humorous videos of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. These videos are legal in the US, although federal and state lawmakers have introduced bills to go after unauthorized deepfakes. In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that prevents AI deepfakes from appearing on social media ahead of an election. That prompted a lawsuit from Elon Musk, who argues it would make "parody illegal" on social media. At this week's AI Action Summit in Paris, Vice President JD Vance endorsed an anti-regulation stance to AI development to promote the growth of the industry. "We believe that excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry just as it's taking off," Vance says. "And we'll make every effort to encourage pro-AI policies."

Scarlett Johansson calls out AI misuse after viral video ripping Ye

Scarlett Johansson says while she has "no tolerance" for hate speech, she's calling out the "misuse of AI" in a viral video featuring her and other Jewish performers responding to antisemitic remarks by Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West. "It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an antisemitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction," the "Black Widow" actor said in a statement to ITK on Wednesday. "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 AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it.," Johansson, 40, said. "We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality," she said. Johansson's response, first reported by People magazine, came after an AI-generated video began circulating this week seemingly showing a variety of famous faces -- including Jerry Seinfeld, Natalie Portman, David Schwimmer and others -- denouncing Ye. In the video, the celebrities sport shirts featuring an image of a raised middle finger and the Star of David written above the name "Kanye." Ye flooded social media with antisemitic posts last week, writing on X that he was "a Nazi" who loves Adolf Hitler. On Tuesday, the 47-year-old music star's online store that was selling t-shirts with images of swastikas was shut down by the e-commerce platform Shopify. In her statement, Johansson said, "I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI, but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us." Last year, Johansson spoke out after ChatGPT rolled out its voiced AI assistant that she claimed sounded "eerily similar" to her voice. In her Tuesday statement, Johansson urged lawmakers to take action on AI. "There is a 1000 foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner," she said. "It is terrifying that the US government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI." "I urge the U.S government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large," she said.

Scarlett Johansson urges limiting AI in wake of bogus Ye protest video

Driving the news: The video starts with an AI-generated version of Johansson wearing a white T-shirt featuring a sketch of a hand bearing the Star of David and displaying the middle finger, with the name "Kanye" written underneath. Zoom in: Ye over the weekend went on an antisemitic posting spree in which he said that he was a "Nazi" and that he loved Hitler. What they're saying: "I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI, but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us," Johansson told People in a statement.

Scarlett Johansson calls for AI safety laws after fake video of celebrities fighting Ye's antisemitism goes viral

Scarlett Johansson in Madrid in 2024.Juan Carlos Rojas / picture alliance via Getty Images file Actor Scarlett Johansson is urging lawmakers to regulate the use of artificial intelligence after her likeness was used without her consent in a fake viral video that appears to show a handful of celebrities protesting the rapper Ye. The video, which has circulated across X and Instagram, shows doctored clips of celebrities -- including Johansson, Canadian rapper Drake, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, filmmaker Steven Spielberg and comedian Adam Sandler -- wearing T-shirts with the Star of David inside a hand making a middle finger gesture. The word "KANYE" is written below. The video ends with a call to "Join the Fight Against Antisemitism." Social media users began circulating the video after Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, began selling swastika T-shirts on his clothing website, which he had promoted during a Super Bowl ad. The rapper has been criticized for posting antisemitic messages on X, including claims that he is a Nazi. His account was deactivated last week. Ye's store was offline as of Tuesday morning after the e-commerce platform Shopify said the site had violated its rules. In a statement, Johansson said: "It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an AI-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an antisemitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction." "I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind," the actor said. "But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality." It's unclear who made the original video. NBC News has not independently verified whether AI-generated software was used to make it. On Instagram, the platform included a disclaimer below one person's reshare of the video, which states: "This content was digitally created or altered with AI to seem real." Representatives for X and Meta, which owns Instagram, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NBC News has reached out to representatives for other celebrities who appear in the fake video. Since the rise of widespread and accessible generative AI technology, Johansson has joined a growing pool of celebrities whose likenesses have been used without their knowledge or permission. In late 2023, Johansson's attorney demanded that an AI-focused app stop using an AI-generated version of her likeness in one of its advertisements. And in May last year, OpenAI decided to pause a voice used as part of its GPT-4o chatbot that sounded similar to Johansson's voice in the sci-fi dystopia movie "Her." Johansson had expressed being "shocked, angered and in disbelief" at the resemblance, but OpenAI denied that the voice was a deliberate imitation of Johansson's voice. Other celebrities and influencers who have found their likenesses used in AI-generated deepfakes -- often in the form of advertisements -- in recent years include pop star Taylor Swift, YouTuber MrBeast and actor Tom Hanks, among many others. "I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI, but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us," Johansson said in her recent statement. For now, no comprehensive legislation exists in the United States to regulate the development of AI. Several states have passed or introduced bills for specific regulations, particularly around political deepfakes. "There is a 1000 foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner," Johansson said in her statement. "It is terrifying that the US government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI." She went on to "urge the U.S government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority." "It is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large."

Scarlett Johansson Condemns 'Misuse of AI' as Deepfake Video Goes Viral

Scarlett Johansson has urged the U.S. government to pass a law limiting the use of AI after a video featuring her deepfake went viral. The AI video, which has been widely circulated online, features deepfakes of Jewish celebrities such as Johansson, Drake, David Schwimmer, Steven Spielberg, and Mark Zuckerberg criticizing Kanye West and anti-semitism. The viral video opens with a deepfake of Johansson, wearing a white T-shirt featuring a hand and its middle finger extended. In the center of the hand is a Star of David. The name "Kanye" is written underneath the hand. The AI clip ends with the words "Enough is Enough" and "Join the Fight Against Antisemitism." Kanye West faced renewed backlash this week after the rapper posted a stream of antisemitic abuse on social media and put T-shirts with a swastika on sale in his online shop. According to Rolling Stone, the creators of the clip -- Ori Bejerano, a self-described "Generative AI Expert" who works at a marketing agency in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Guy Bar, founder of an AI tech hub called Elevaitor -- reportedly did not obtain the permission of any celebrity shown in the clip. As the deepfake video continues to gain online attention, Johannson made a statement to People about the misuse of AI technology. "It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an AI-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an antisemitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction," Johansson says. "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 AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. "We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality." In the statement to People, Johansson calls for government regulation of AI to prevent abuse like this in the U.S. "I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us," she says. "There is a 1000-foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner. "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 AI." Johansson has been an outspoken critic of AI-generated deepfakes. She previously took legal action against an AI app that used her likeness and name in an advertisement without consent. The ad, posted by an image-generating app called "Lisa AI: 90's Yearbook & Avatar," used real footage of Johansson to generate a deepfaked clip of the actress. PetaPixel also reported on a recent documentary about AI-generated pornography that may have broken U.K. law when it featured deepfaked footage of Johansson in lingerie.

Scarlett Johansson calls for deepfake ban after AI video goes viral

Scarlett Johansson is calling on the government to pass a law limiting the use of AI after a video featuring an AI deepfake of the actress circulated online. In a statement to People, Johansson said, "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." The video in question shows Johansson, along with other Jewish celebrities including Jerry Seinfeld, Mila Kunis, Jack Black, Drake, Jake Gyllenhaal, Adam Sandler, and others, wearing a t-shirt that shows the name "Kanye" along with an image of a middle finger that has the Star of David in the center. Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) returned to X last week to post antisemitic comments. He also began selling shirts with a swastika on his website, which has since been taken down.