The discourse surrounding Artificial Intelligence is a complex subject, proving once again that technology is both a blessing and a curse. For many, the scariest element of AI is watching a video, reading a news story, or listening to a new release from a favourite artist without knowing whether or not it is real. The reality is that celebrities today do not merely face pressure and abuse from fans online – they also live with the fear of being targeted by deepfakes.
To break down a few key terms:
Artificial Intelligence: The ability of computer systems and software to perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence.
Deepfake: An image, video, or audio recording created or altered using AI.
© Getty ImagesThe lengths to which AI can go are alarming, particularly given how realistic the results appear. Take Cardi B, who was targeted by fake online videos of her husband allegedly cheating, or the viral imagery of Tom Hanks used in an unauthorized dental advertisement. Beyond these cases, there have been even more serious instances of deepfakes targeting high-profile figures such as Taylor Swift, accompanied by chilling view counts and statistics.
HELLO! is taking a closer look at the Hollywood stars who have fallen victim to Artificial Intelligence...
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© Getty Images for The Recording ACardi B
In 2023, Cardi B was targeted when someone created AI-generated audio and photos appearing to show her husband, Offset, cheating on her.
The fake video showed the rapper allegedly trying to arrange a meeting with a woman, though most fans immediately realised it was fraudulent due to differing physical features and hair.
The post was captioned: "Offset has allegedly cheated on Cardi B once again. How embarrassing."
It was flagged for copyright infringement, prompting Cardi to post a since-deleted voice note on X threatening legal action: "All these little games that you guys want to play online, it’s going to be over with. You're going to be getting sued, and we're going to make an example out of you. Yeah, and that was a terrible AI voice, by the way."
Cardi B officially filed for divorce from Offset in August 2024.
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© WireImageDrake and The Weeknd
When an AI song goes viral, the hype usually dies down after a few days. In this case, however, the track was briefly deemed eligible for a Grammy Award.
The AI-generated song "Heart On My Sleeve" featured synthetic vocals mimicking Drake and The Weeknd, despite neither artist contributing to the project. The Recording Academy initially stated in an interview with The New York Times: "It’s absolutely eligible because it was written by a human."
The song was produced using AI voice models by a TikTok user operating under the alias Ghostwriter977 and released in April 2023. Universal Music Group ultimately forced the song off streaming platforms, though it had already garnered millions of listens worldwide. I'll stick to real music, thanks!
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© AFP via Getty ImagesTom Hanks
Hollywood actor Tom Hanks was unexpectedly featured in an advertisement for a dental plan in 2023 using a digital replica of his likeness.
Clarifying he had no involvement with the promotion, the actor posted on Instagram: "There's a video out there promoting some dental plan with an AI version of me. I have nothing to do with it."
Ironically, the 70-year-old has appeared in several digitally altered film roles, including his CGI performance in The Polar Express (2004) and his de-aged scenes in A Man Called Otto (2022). Though I imagine appearing in an AI dental plan was not on his bucket list...
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© Getty ImagesScarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson faced a high-profile dispute when OpenAI launched a chatbot voice that sounded strikingly similar to her own.
When the model debuted in 2024, users drew immediate comparisons between the "Sky" voice preset and Johansson's vocal performance in the 2013 film Her.
OpenAI later paused the voice, stating it was never intended to be an "imitation" of the actress. In a statement released to the BBC, Scarlett remarked: "When I heard the released demo, I was shocked, angered and in disbelief that Mr Altman would pursue a voice that sounded so eerily similar to mine."
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© Getty Images for The Met Museum/Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj was the subject of a bizarre deepfake video showing her getting married to an AI-generated Tom Holland and arguing with a computer-generated Mark Zuckerberg.
The rapper addressed the clip on X in 2023, writing: "HELP!!! What in the AI shapeshifting cloning conspiracy theory is this?!?!! I hope the whole internet get deleted!!!" Not a bad point Nicki...
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© Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TheBeyoncé and Jay-Z
Beyoncé was targeted by detailed AI-generated photographs depicting a fictional holiday in Brazil. The images showed the singer at a bar, relaxing in a hot tub with a synthetic Jay-Z, and dining on a beach with her family. Although likely intended as a joke, the spread of realistic synthetic imagery raised further concerns over privacy and digital likeness rights.
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© BBCChristina Trevanion
Bargain Hunt presenter Christina Trevanion was targeted by explicit deepfake videos, leaving her distressed.
Appearing on BBC's Morning Live in 2025, she disclosed that her likeness had been used without permission to generate pornographic content circulated across adult websites.
Addressing the issue, she said: "Last September I discovered my image had been used to create phony explicit videos known as deepfake porn. I was sent a very long list of sensitive URLs where my head had been AI-ed onto pornographic videos and images. As it sunk in, it was deeply distressing. I felt naive, and stupid and utterly violated in every single way."
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© Getty Images for TAS Rights ManaTaylor Swift
Taylor Swift fell victim to deepfake abuse in 2024 when explicit, synthetic images of her were viewed millions of times across platforms such as X and Telegram.
One image was viewed 47 million times before being removed. The incident accelerated international legislative efforts, leading to the passage of the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act in the US to criminalise non-consensual intimate deepfake imagery.
