Associated Incidents
Actress Scarlett Johansson is calling for urgent AI safety legislation after a deepfake video of her and other Jewish celebrities went viral for slamming antisemitism by Ye, formerly Kanye West.
The viral post shows AI-generated versions of Johansson, rapper Drake, Jerry Seinfeld, Ben Stiller, Mila Kunis, Steven Spielberg, Lenny Kravitz and other big names wearing white T-shirts with the Star of David inside of a hand making a middle finger gesture with "Kanye" written below.
It features the Jewish folk song "Hava Nagila" in the background and ends with the message "Enough is Enough" and "Join the Fight Against Antisemitism."
The video started circulating after the "Donda" rapper's recent hate-fueled tirade on X where he professed his love for Hitler and made many antisemitic and other hateful comments. Then, during Super Bowl LIX, he aired a commercial advertising his Yeezy clothing brand and urged viewers to head to his website. There, the site was selling a T-shirt featuring a swastika.
The item has since been taken down, the store removed from Shopify, the e-commerce online store platform, and his X account deactivated.
Johansson said her likeness was used without her consent and is calling for lawmakers to regulate the use of artificial intelligence and prioritize passing legislation to limit AI use.
"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 said in a statement obtained by CNN. "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 urge the U.S government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority," she continued. "It is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large."
The video was created by Ori Bejerano of Israel whose Instagram bio states he's a "Generative AI Expert, Creator, Researcher & Lecturer, Leading AI-Driven Advertising."
"F--k you Kanye West," Bejerano's caption translated to. "In recent days, Kanye West has again crossed every possible red line. The man who had previously proclaimed 'I am Nazi praise Hitler' and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, used one of the biggest stages in the world -- running an ad during the Super Bowl -- to spread antisemitism and hate."
He said West's recent actions were not a "gimmick" or "artistic provocation" but an "intentional incitement against Jews."
However, this is not the "Black Widow" actress' first issue with the technology.
"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 continued. "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."
In 2024, she claimed OpenAI used her voice for a version of ChatGPT even though she declined the offer many times. OpenAI eventually removed the voice.