The use of celebrity likeness for AI videos is spiraling out of control, with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars expressing frustration over his voice being replicated without consent. The 88-year-old actor has criticized the practice of using artificial versions of his voice in content ranging from news to satirical videos, calling it “unauthentic” and “unethical.”
Freeman said he is “a little PO’d” about the issue, emphasizing that while some actors like James Earl Jones have consented to their voices being imitated, he has not. “I don’t appreciate it, and I get paid for doing stuff like that,” he told an outlet, adding that creators who use his voice without permission are “robbing me.” His lawyers have been “very, very busy” handling cases where his voice was replicated without his consent, he revealed.
Freeman also jabbed at Tilly Norwood, an AI character created by Dutch actress Eline Van der Velden in 2025. The avatar, designed to mimic celebrity status while cutting costs, faced criticism for being “not real,” with Freeman noting that ” nobody likes her” because she lacks authenticity. He warned that such characters could harm the union’s role in keeping actors acting, creating conflict in the industry.
In 2024, Freeman responded to a TikTok video claiming to be his niece, which used an artificial version of his voice. He thanked fans for their vigilance, stating that “authenticity and integrity remain paramount.” The AI rapper FN Meka, introduced by Capitol Records in 2022, was later dropped after activists claimed it reinforced racial stereotypes, highlighting the risks of such technology.
Freeman’s remarks underscore the growing tension over AI’s impact on creative industries, with his stance reflecting a broader concern about the ethical implications of replicating human voices without consent.
