As a result of Kanye West's most recent antisemitic statements, some of Hollywood's top stars have joined together in protest — except not really.
On February 7, 2025, Kanye West tweeted out his love for Adolf Hitler. On Tuesday a lawsuit was filed by a former employee of West, claiming that the rap star allegedly referred to himself as a "Nazi" and compared himself to Hitler. In addition, Sunday night during the Super Bowl, West aired a commercial that showed him in a dentist's chair showing off his teeth, which had been covered in diamonds. "I spent like all the money for the commercial on these new teeth," he said. "Once again I had to shoot it on the iPhone. Um, go to Yeezy.com."
Those who went to the website found that there was only one item available for purchase — A $20 white T-shirt with a black swastika. The website was quickly shut down by Shopify for violating the company's terms of service.
In response to his actions, a social media video went viral on Tuesday depicting a variety of Jewish celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Steven Spielberg, David Schwimmer, Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhaal and others wearing a T-shirt with a hand pointing the middle finger and the Star of David inside with Kanye's name underneath it.
The only thing is that the video — whose creator is unknown — was made using AI and presumably without the permission of any of the celebrities. AI has become a hot button topic in Hollywood as it was one of the main sticking points surrounding the most recent actors and writers strikes. With the surfacing of this video, one of the celebrities is speaking out.
Scarlett Johansson pushed back against the video, calling it a "misuse of A.I., no matter what its messaging," in a statement to People. "It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an A.I.-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an anti-Semitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction," she said. "I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for anti-Semitism or hate speech of any kind. But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech manipulated by A.I. is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of A.I., no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality."
However, other actors did speak out against West's statements personally. Schwimmer, on his Instagram account, called for Elon Musk to remove the rapper's X account: "This is 2022," he began, "We can't stop a deranged bigot from spewing hate filled, ignorant bile... but we CAN stop giving him a megaphone, Mr. Musk."
Australian actress Isla Fisher also took to Instagram to ask fans to unfollow the rapper saying, "Hey friends, can you please unfollow Kanye? Did you know this is the only thing for sale on his website after placing a Super Bowl commercial? F*** this monster forever. No Tolerance for this s***."
West has since deactivated his X account and although he has not made any statements, his talent manager, Daniel McCartney, released the news that he and the talent agency 33&West had dropped West, writing in Instagram Stories: "Effective immediately, I am no longer representing Ye (F/K/A Kanye West) due to his recent harmful and hateful remarks that myself nor 33 & West can stand for." ~Ryan Donahue
Screw Scarlett Johanson, I bet most of these celebs don't have a problem with the video. Kanye has a mental health problem and/or he's evil. At any rate, he should be locked up where he can get some help.
I understand Scarlett's POV – AI could definitely be dangerous, especially for the creative community. This video, however, was done for something positive – to counteract hate. It's a slippery slope for sure.
I love AI when it's used in this way. Like in Cobra Kai, where they had Mr. Miyaga return in a dream sequence for Daniel. It's amazing what they can do, when it's used properly.
I think this is a very important news story and very well written. I recognize it has been made for something positive however anyone’s image needs the person’s permission before using it. Let’s be aware of these issues with AI now when it’s celebrities and not politicians or medical information being manipulated!! Or even ourselves!! It could be me or you and it could be negative How very scary to realize how easily anyone can create these kinds of distortions!! Thanks for bringing this story to my attention!!
I am not Jewish but I sure would like one of the "F U Kanye" t-shirts. The guy is one crazy mofo. What ever happened to cancel culture? He needs to be shut up, cancelled and preferably given a cozy room with padded walls and no contact with the outside world. He's a menace of the worst kind - a hateful public voice without a filter and no sense.
If you find it concerning when people claim the Holocaust never happened, or that climate change is just a Chinese plot, or that a good percentage of what the Trump administration claims are untruths, then you should be equally upset by this AI video. Whether it is "good" or "bad" isn't the issue. It is a lie, it never happened, and the people represented in it did not give permission for their likenesses to be misappropriated. Lies are lies. I work almost daily in graphic Ai and all my works are labelled as being produced with Ai assistance. People have the right to know what is real and what is created through synthetic means, just as they have the right to know the "milk" they are drinking is made from oats. The author(s) of this video have no idea what personal political stance these celebrities would take on this matter with "Ye", and no one should be putting "words" in someone else's mouth, unless it is clearly understood that it is fiction (as actors do as their trade). This video tried to pass itself off as "real" when it is, at best, an artistic creation. It should be clearly labelled as such, perhaps watermarked throughout it, and even with that, if real people are depicted they have the right to decide if they choose to be represented or not.