Deepfake Video Uses Hollywood Stars' Images in Anti-Antisemitism Protest Against Kanye West
A video featuring AI-generated deepfakes of Hollywood actors including Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis, and others appeared online in February, falsely depicting them protesting Kanye West's antisemitic merchandise and social media posts. Johansson called for government legislation to regulate AI use and limit the spread of synthetic media.
What happened
In February, a video featuring AI-generated deepfakes of multiple Jewish Hollywood actors appeared online. The video showed Scarlett Johansson, Jerry Seinfeld, Mila Kunis, Jack Black, Drake, Jake Gyllenhaal, Adam Sandler and others wearing t-shirts with the name 'Kanye' alongside an image of a middle finger containing a Star of David.
The deepfake video emerged after Kanye West returned to social media to post antisemitic comments and began selling merchandise featuring swastika imagery.
Reported impact
Scarlett Johansson stated it is 'terrifying' that the U.S. government lacks AI legislation protecting citizens against the dangers of synthetic media. She called the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI 'a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it.'
Johansson urged lawmakers to prioritize legislation limiting AI use, describing it as a bipartisan issue affecting humanity's future.
Index analysis
The incident illustrates how AI deepfake technology can amplify hateful messaging by creating false depictions of public figures without their consent to spread protest content, making it difficult for viewers to distinguish authentic from manipulated media.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.