Scarlett Johansson Slams AI Kanye West Protest Video: ‘This is Terrible’

Scarlett Johansson Responds to AI Controversy

Scarlett Johansson has released a generated AI video featuring herself and other celebrities condemning Kanye West.

• READ MORE: With his trick “White Lives Matter”, Kanye West finally reached the return point?

The depersonalized video includes AI-generated images of various pop culture figures, including Johansson, who sport “Fuck Kanye” t-shirts a few days after the rapper’s suspension from X for posting a series of anti-Semitic remarks.

Kanye West’s Controversial Return

Last week (February 7), West returned to X, expressing his support for Didi and Chris Brown, and advocating for individuals released from prison in cases involving sexual violence.

His posts became increasingly assertive as he claimed “dominion” over his wife, censoring other degrading posts aimed at multiple communities.

Eventually, West directed his followers to his website, where a subject and a white t-shirt emblazoned with a large swastika, labeled “HH-01,” appeared. Since then, his website has been taken down, and his Kanye X account has been disabled.

In response, a deep fake AI video featuring the message “Enough” circulated on social media. The viral clip portrayed likenesses of Mark Zuckerberg, Drake, David Schwimmer, Jerry Seinfeld, Ben Stiller, and a sportswear shirt depicted with a Star of David and Kanye’s name beneath a middle finger.

Now, Johansson has reacted to this video, describing it as “terrifying” and condemning the “improper use of AI.”

“Enough enough.”

🖕 Kanye West.

Make it viral.pic.twitter.com/eqcmqnksn2

– vivid.🇮🇱 (@vividprows) 11 February 2025

In her statement, Johansson said: “I am a Jewish woman who does not tolerate anti-Semitism or hate speech. However, I firmly believe that the potential for inciting hatred, amplified by AI, poses a far greater threat than any individual who takes responsibility. We must address the improper use of AI, or we risk losing our sense of reality.”

She continued, “Unfortunately, I have been a very public victim of AI… But the truth is that the threat of AI affects all of us. There is a 1000-foot wave forming regarding AI, to which several progressive countries, excluding the United States, have responded responsibly. It is frightening that the US government is paralyzed when it comes to adopting legislation that protects all its citizens from the inevitable dangers of AI.”

Johansson concluded: “I urge the US government to prioritize the adoption of legislation that limits AI usage; this is a bipartisan issue that significantly affects the near future of humanity as a whole.”

Johansson has previously been a victim of AI and spoke out last year against OpenAI after they allegedly used a voice similar to hers for the new ChatGPT system.

The actor claimed that when she heard a new version of the system’s voice, named Sky, she, her family, and friends noticed the resemblance. Consequently, she filed a complaint against OpenAI, resulting in the removal of that voice option.

Speaking at the launch of her film Go to the Moon last summer, Johansson stated: “We are all awaiting and advocating for legislation that protects the personal rights of everyone,” (through Sky News). “This emphasizes how vulnerable everyone (to AI) is and how few defenses we have, if any, against the misuse of our likeness,” she added.

Johansson also argued that in addition to the resemblance in voice, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, hinted at using her voice by writing the word “her” on Twitter. The actor interpreted this as a reference to the film Her, in which she voices a chatbot who is the love interest of Joaquin Phoenix’s character.

She claimed that Altman contacted her prior to the ChatGPT system’s release, asking if she would consider lending her voice for one of the voice model options. After she declined the offer, Johansson reported that Altman reached out to her agent, asking her to reconsider. She claims that “before we could connect, the system was live.”

OpenAI has since removed the Sky voice option, but they deny that it was based on Johansson’s voice. Altman stated about the situation: “Sky’s voice is not Scarlett Johansson’s, and it was never intended to resemble her.”

“We had a voice actor behind Sky’s voice from the beginning; any implication otherwise is misinformation from Miss Johansson. Out of respect for Miss Johansson, we paused using Sky’s voice in our products. We regret that we did not communicate better with Miss Johansson.”