Kanye West, now legally known as Ye, has a long history of provoking strong reactions. His latest move, however, has left many outraged. After dropping a Super Bowl ad featuring his diamond-encrusted teeth, he directed viewers to his website, where the only item for sale was a white T-shirt featuring a black swastika.
This followed a series of antisemitic remarks on social media, where he openly expressed admiration for Hitler and referred to himself as a Nazi. The backlash was swift. Shopify shut down his store, and his X (formerly Twitter) account was eventually deactivated.
Yet, before this, his actions inspired an AI-generated protest video that quickly went viral.
The Deepfake Protest Video
In response to Kanye West’s behavior, an AI-generated video surfaced, depicting Jewish celebrities like David Schwimmer, Steven Spielberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Scarlett Johansson, and Sacha Baron Cohen.
Marca / The deepfake video shows many celebrities wearing a T-shirt that combines the Star of David with an extended middle finger and the word “Kanye” underneath.
The video ends with the words, “Enough is Enough” and “Join the Fight Against Antisemitism,” set to an electronic remix of “Hava Nagila.” The message was clear: A call to action against antisemitism.
BUT there was one major problem: None of the celebrities had agreed to be in it!
Scarlett Johansson Speaks Out
One of the celebrities portrayed in the deepfake, Scarlett Johansson took immediate action. She says her friends and family alerted her to the video, and she was shocked to see her AI-generated face used without her permission.
She believes that while antisemitism should be condemned, AI-generated content like this is dangerous. In her view, deepfakes can spread misinformation and pose a greater threat than any single person. She insists that the misuse of AI, even with good intentions, must be addressed before reality itself becomes distorted.
Who Created the Video?
The deepfake was reportedly created by Israeli entrepreneur Guy Bar, who runs an AI technology company called Elevaitor. In an interview, he explains that he generated the video in just 24 hours. His goal was to raise awareness about antisemitism, especially in response to West’s actions.
GTN / While some appreciate the message the deepfake conveys, other stars like Scarlett Johansson worry about the ethical implications of deepfake.
The video blurs the line between reality and fiction, making it difficult for viewers to separate truth from manipulation.
Real-Life Celebrities Who Have Called Out Kanye West
Some of the celebrities featured in the AI video have already condemned Kanye West in real life. Isla Fisher, who appears in the deepfake, previously urged her followers to unfollow him, calling him a monster for selling the swastika-emblazoned T-shirt.
David Schwimmer also took a firm stance, urging Elon Musk to remove Kanye West from X. He pointed out that West has more than 32 million followers - twice the number of Jews in the world - and that his words can lead to real-world violence.
Kanye West’s Reaction and Fallout
Despite the backlash, Kanye West continued to defend himself online before eventually logging off. He thanked Elon Musk for giving him a platform but admitted he needed to step away.
His exit from X didn’t stop the consequences. Shopify took action against his Yeezy brand, shutting down his online store for violating company policies. With no major platforms left to promote his work, West’s reach is now more limited than ever.
Sure! Kanye West may be at the center of this controversy. But the bigger battle is over AI ethics. Scarlett Johansson and others are now pushing for new laws to regulate AI and protect individuals from unauthorized use of their likenesses.