Topline
A video of celebrities appearing to denounce Kanye West’s antisemitism is circulating social media—but Scarlett Johansson slammed the video in a statement Wednesday, clarifying it is not actually her, while urging the government to pass legislation that limits the use of AI.
Johansson has previously criticized what she believed to be an AI imitation of her voice. (Photo by … [+]
Corbis via Getty ImagesKey Facts
Johansson said in a statement to People she opposes antisemitism, but believes the “potential for hate speech multiplied by A.I. is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it.”
She accused the government of being “paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of A.I.,” calling for legislation that limits AI usage.
Johansson is one of many Jewish celebrities whose likeness was generated for the video, alongside Drake, David Schwimmer, Mila Kunis, Jack Black, Steven Spielberg and Jerry Seinfeld, as well as billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Mike Bloomberg.
In the video, the celebrities wear white T-shirts branded with a middle finger that contains a Star of David design, above text that reads: “KANYE.”
The video appears to have first been posted by an Instagram user whose bio states they are a “generative AI expert,” and it has been reposted on X by several users, garnering thousands of likes and views.
Forbes has reached out to other celebrities whose likenesses were generated in the video for comment.
Key Background
Johansson has previously condemned the AI replication of her likeness. Last year, Johansson accused OpenAI of replicating her voice, even after she had denied the company permission, for its ChatGPT update that allowed the system to respond verbally to user prompts. In announcing the launch, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote a one-word post on X: “her,” which some considered a possible reference to the 2013 film “Her,” in which Johansson voices an artificially intelligent virtual assistant. In response, OpenAI said the ChatGPT voice “belongs to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice.” Johansson said she was “shocked, angered and in disbelief” by the ChatGPT voice, which she considered “eerily similar” to her own.
Why Is Kanye West Under Fire For Antisemitism?
West, the rapper, fashion entrepreneur and former billionaire, has stoked antisemitism controversies for years, but recently sparked outrage with multiple rants on his now-deleted X account in which he praised Hitler and Nazism. Among his posts were: “I LOVE HITLER NOW WHAT B*****ES,” “IM A NAZI” and “Hitler was sooooo fresh.” He also purchased an ad in the Los Angeles area during the Super Bowl, which directed users to go to yeezy.com—but at the time, the only item up for purchase was a T-shirt with a swastika on it. E-commerce platform Shopify said Tuesday it took down West’s shop because it “did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms.” An ex-Yeezy staffer sued West on Tuesday in California superior court, alleging he discriminated against her based on her sex and Jewish religion. In her complaint, she shared screenshots of texts in which West allegedly said “I Am A NAZI,” “Hail Hitler” and “Welcome to the first day of working for Hitler.” West previously lost a lucrative deal with Adidas—slashing his net worth, and ending his billionaire status—following a string of antisemitic and otherwise bizarre comments in 2022.
Further Reading
Kanye West Sued By Ex-Yeezy Staffer For Comparing Himself To Hitler, Calling Himself A Nazi (Forbes)
Shopify Shuts Down Kanye West’s Yeezy Site, Talent Agent Drops Him Amid Latest Antisemitic Tear: Timeline (Forbes)
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