Imagine losing someone you love deeply, only to have their memory reduced to a digital caricature, manipulated and exploited for likes and clicks. That’s the harsh reality Zelda Williams, daughter of the late, great Robin Williams, is facing. In a heartfelt and fiercely honest Instagram plea, she’s begging people to stop sending her AI-generated recreations of her father, the legendary comedian who passed away in 2014 at 63. But here’s where it gets controversial—while some see AI as the future of creativity, Zelda calls it a 'gross' and disrespectful distortion of her father’s legacy.
'Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad,' Zelda wrote in her Instagram story. 'Stop assuming I want to see them or that I’ll somehow find comfort in these digital ghosts. I don’t, and I won’t. If you’re doing this to troll me, trust me, I’ve seen worse. But if you have even a shred of empathy, stop. It’s not just disrespectful to him and me—it’s disrespectful to everyone. It’s a waste of time, energy, and, frankly, it’s the opposite of what he’d want.'
She didn’t hold back, diving into the deeper issue of AI’s role in art and culture. 'To see the legacies of real people—their voices, their mannerisms, their essence—reduced to a cheap imitation, just so someone can churn out viral TikTok content, is infuriating,' she continued. 'This isn’t art. It’s the equivalent of taking someone’s life story, grinding it into a tasteless paste, and forcing it down people’s throats for a thumbs up. It’s gross. And this is the part most people miss—AI isn’t creating something new; it’s regurgitating the past, often in the most superficial and soulless way possible.'
Zelda’s frustration isn’t new. Back in 2023, when SAG-AFTRA labeled AI recreations a 'mandatory subject of bargaining' during their strike, she spoke out against the practice, calling AI versions of her father 'personally disturbing.' 'I’m not unbiased in this fight,' she admitted on Instagram. 'For years, I’ve seen how people want to use AI to recreate actors who can’t consent, like my dad. This isn’t a hypothetical problem—it’s happening right now.'
She went on to highlight the broader implications: 'I’ve heard AI mimic his voice, saying things he never would have said. While it’s personally upsetting, the real issue goes far beyond my feelings. Living actors deserve the chance to create, to bring their humanity to their roles. These AI recreations are, at best, pale imitations of greatness, and at worst, grotesque monsters stitched together from the worst parts of this industry. They’re not honoring anyone—they’re exploiting them.'
Zelda’s words raise a thought-provoking question: Is AI a tool for innovation, or is it a soulless machine that devalues human creativity and legacy? And here’s where it gets even more controversial—could AI recreations ever be ethical, or are they inherently a violation of the people they attempt to replicate? Let’s discuss—do you think AI has a place in honoring the legacies of those we’ve lost, or is it a line we should never cross? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
