Scarlett Johansson responds after her likeness is used in AI video of celebrities condemning Kanye West’s antisemitism
The AI-generated clip shows celebrities such as Johansson, Ben Stiller, Mila
Kunis and Steven Spielberg wearing white T-shirts featuring the Star of David
inside a hand sticking up its middle finger above Kanye’s name.
Wednesday 12 February 2025 18:47, UK
Scarlett Johansson has condemned the use of AI after her likeness was used in a
viral video of celebrities condemning Kanye West’s antisemitism.
The AI-generated clip shows celebrities such as Johansson, Ben Stiller, Mila
Kunis and Steven Spielberg wearing white T-shirts featuring the Star of David
inside a hand sticking up its middle finger above Kanye’s
[https://news.sky.com/topic/kanye-west-5891] name.
It finishes with an AI version of Adam Sandler sticking his middle finger up at
the camera and the words: “Enough is enough. Join the fight to end
antisemitism.”
But Johansson released a statement about “the misuse of AI”, writing: “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.”
She added: “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 called on the US government to do more to limit AI, adding: “There is a
1,000ft 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 paralysed when it comes to passing
legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of
AI.
“I urge the US government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a
top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate
future of humanity at large.”
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Controversy surrounding swastika T-shirts
It comes amid a backlash after West, also known as Ye
[https://news.sky.com/topic/kanye-west-5891], sold T-shirts featuring a swastika
and wrote a series of antisemitic messages on X.
On Sunday the US rapper bought a Super Bowl advert which directed people to his
website, which featured nothing but a single white T-shirt with a swastika on
the front alongside the code “HH-01” – which the Anti-Defamation League (ADF)
said was code for “Heil Hitler”.
The ADF described the shirt, which was on sale for $20 (£16) as “further proof”
of West’s antisemitism.
The e-commerce platform Spotify, which hosts many online shops and businesses,
later deactivated his site
[https://news.sky.com/story/kanye-wests-yeezy-online-shopping-platform-taken-down-over-swastika-t-shirts-13307276].
In an emailed statement to Sky News’ partner network NBC News, Shopify said:
“All merchants are responsible for following the rules of our platform. This
merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms
so we removed them from Shopify.”
Antisemitic online posts
In recent days West posted antisemitic messages on X, as well as “I love Hitler”
and “I’m a Nazi”.
His account then had a “sensitive content warning” added before he deactivated
it
[http://news.sky.com/story/kanye-west-leaves-x-after-antisemitic-rampage-13306537]
on Monday.
His spokesperson Milo Yiannopoulos said: “Ye is an intergenerational artist and
icon who continues to redefine the limits of creativity and free expression. He
has deactivated his X account for the time being.”
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The Campaign Against Antisemitism was joined by Friends star David Schwimmer,
who features in the AI video, in calling for Elon Musk to remove West from X
[https://news.sky.com/story/friends-star-david-schwimmer-urges-elon-musk-to-remove-kanye-west-from-x-after-hate-filled-ignorant-comments-13305867]
over a string of offensive posts.
