Scarlett Johansson has issued a strong warning about the “misuse of AI” after a deepfake video surfaced depicting her and other Jewish celebrities protesting against Kanye West.
The fake video portrayed Johansson, David Schwimmer, and Jerry Seinfeld wearing white T-shirts with the Star of David above the word “Kanye” and making an offensive gesture.
The video was created in response to West’s recent controversies, including antisemitic posts on the X platform and selling swastika-emblazoned T-shirts on his website.
Johansson, in a statement to People, expressed her alarm at the growing threat of AI-generated content.
While she reiterated her zero tolerance for hate speech, she also emphasized that AI’s potential to spread harmful messages is a far greater danger.
“It has been brought to my attention by family and friends that an AI-generated video featuring my likeness is circulating online,” Johansson said.
“I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind. But the threat posed by AI’s misuse is far greater, as it risks making us lose our grip on reality.”
Other Jewish celebrities, including Steven Spielberg, Adam Sandler, Sacha Baron Cohen, Natalie Portman, and Lenny Kravitz, were also falsely depicted in the deepfake video, which carried the slogan “Enough is enough. Join the fight against anti-semitism.”
Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, left the X platform following his string of antisemitic posts, in which he repeatedly referred to himself as a “Nazi” and praised Hitler.
During this time, he launched a controversial Super Bowl ad promoting his website, which briefly sold swastika-branded T-shirts. Shopify later took the site offline due to policy violations.
Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy condemned the incident, explaining in a note to staff that the website initially appeared to be a legitimate apparel site before switching its content after the Super Bowl.
“Respondents to the commercials were redirected toward the marketing of a wholly appalling product,” he said, as reported by Variety.
Meanwhile, Ty Dolla $ign, who collaborated with West on his recent Vultures 1 and Vultures 2 albums, distanced himself from the rapper.
“I do not condone any form of hate speech towards anybody,” Ty Dolla $ign posted on Instagram without directly mentioning West.
Commenting on the deepfake video, Jewish Chronicle writer Nicole Lampert said it was initially “thrilling” to see Jewish stars standing up to West—until it became clear the video was AI-generated.
“It only serves to highlight the deafening silence of the celebrity class,” she wrote.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about AI misuse and the increasing number of deepfake scams.
Recent data from the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority shows that fake celebrity endorsements remain the most common type of scam circulating online.
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