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Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson has called for immediate government intervention following the unauthorized use of her likeness in an AI-generated video targeting Kanye West. The viral deepfake, which has been circulating across social media platforms, features AI-generated versions of multiple Jewish celebrities, including Drake, Jerry Seinfeld, and Steven Spielberg.
The controversial video opens with an AI recreation of Johansson wearing a white T-shirt displaying a Star of David and middle finger gesture aimed at West. The clip concludes with an AI-generated Adam Sandler making a similar gesture while the traditional Jewish song "Hava Nagila" plays in the background.
"I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind," Johansson stated to PEOPLE. "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."
The incident coincides with recent controversy surrounding West, who aired a Super Bowl advertisement on February 9 directing viewers to his Yeezy website, where he was selling T-shirts featuring swastikas with the product code "HH" – a known Nazi reference. The incident resulted in his talent agency severing ties with the rapper.
This isn't Johansson's first encounter with AI misuse. In November 2023, she pursued legal action against a company that utilized her AI likeness without consent in an advertisement. More recently, in May 2024, she confronted OpenAI over their ChatGPT system, "Sky," which featured a voice remarkably similar to her own.
"There is a 1000-foot wave coming regarding A.I. that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner," Johansson warned. "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 actress emphasized that while she has been a "very public victim of A.I.," the technology's threat extends to everyone. Her statement concluded with a urgent appeal to U.S. legislators, describing AI regulation as "a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large."
While AI capabilities continue to advance, the need for comprehensive legislation to protect individuals' rights and likeness becomes increasingly critical.
