AT A GLANCE
- Bernice King called out AI creators using her father’s image.
- Zelda Williams previously slammed AI videos of her late father, Robin Williams.
- Both women say these recreations are exploitative, not artistic.
- The trend highlights growing backlash against deepfake entertainment.
Bernice King Speaks Out Against AI ‘Recreations’ of MLK
Dr. Bernice King has officially had enough of artificial intelligence turning her father into clickbait. The daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. joined Robin Williams’ daughter, Zelda Williams, in pleading with the public to stop using AI to recreate their famous parents.
‘Please, Just Stop’: Zelda Williams Calls AI Videos ‘Disgusting’
“Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad,” Zelda wrote on X earlier this week. “It’s dumb, it’s a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it’s NOT what he’d want. You’re not making art—you’re making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings.”
Bernice King reposted Zelda’s message, writing simply, “I concur concerning my father. Please stop.”
Deepfakes Turn History Into a Circus
The women’s statements underscore a disturbing trend—AI tools that reanimate the dead for viral amusement. From fake commercials featuring MLK to “new” Robin Williams performances, these digital puppets are created using programs like OpenAI’s Sora 2 and shared across TikTok and Instagram. What started as novelty tech has devolved into digital grave-robbing for likes.
Artists Push Back Against AI Exploitation
King has repeatedly condemned AI distortions of her father’s image and legacy, calling them “dishonoring, deplorable, and disrespectful.” She’s not alone. Artists like SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, and Drake have all publicly rejected AI recreations of their likenesses and voices.
Across Hollywood and the music industry, creators are pushing back against what they see as tech-driven exploitation masquerading as innovation.
