Zelda Williams, daughter of the late actor and comedian Robin Williams, has publicly urged the public to stop creating and sharing AI-generated videos of her father. In a heartfelt Instagram Story, Zelda expressed her discomfort over the growing trend of using artificial intelligence to recreate her father’s likeness and voice.
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What Happened
On October 3, 2025, Zelda Williams shared a message on her Instagram Stories asking people to stop sending her AI-generated videos of Robin Williams, who passed away in 2014. Her post read:
“Please, stop sending me AI videos of dad. Stop believing that I want to see it or that I’ll understand it. I don’t and I won’t. If you’re trying to troll me, I’ve seen far worse. I’ll limit myself and move on. But please, if you have any decency, just stop doing that to him and me, even to everyone else — full stop.”
Zelda emphasized that such recreations go against what her father would have wanted. She has previously described AI attempts to recreate his likeness as “personally disturbing,” especially when it involves replicating his voice. Her latest statement brings renewed attention to the ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated depictions of deceased public figures.
Zelda’s Criticism of AI Entertainment
Zelda strongly criticized the trend of recreating deceased celebrities with AI. She remarked:
“The legacy of real people has been reduced to ‘it vaguely looks and sounds like them, so that’s good enough,’ so that other people can churn out terrible TikTok content, which is madness.”
She continued:
“You’re not making art, you’re making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of human lives, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else’s throat hoping they’ll give you a little appreciation. Gross.”
Zelda also expressed skepticism about AI as the future of entertainment:
“For the love of everything, stop calling it ‘the future.’ AI is just badly recycling and regurgitating the past to consume again.”
Wider Industry Impact
Zelda’s comments come amid broader concerns in the entertainment industry about AI-generated content. The introduction of Tilly Norwood, an “AI actor” created by Dutch comedian Aline van der Velden, has sparked significant debate. While van der Velden describes Norwood as a creative act rather than a replacement for human actors, the project has raised ethical questions about AI in performance art.
The American media union SAG-AFTRA has expressed concerns that AI actors lack genuine life experience and emotional depth, warning that audiences may reject content detached from the human experience. Actress Emily Blunt also called the concept “really, really scary.”
Public and Industry Reactions
Zelda’s outspoken stance has ignited a wider conversation about AI ethics in the entertainment industry. Her message highlights the tension between innovation and respecting the memory of deceased artists.
Aline van der Velden defended her creation, stating:
“Tilly Norwood is not a replacement for a human being, but a creative act. The controversy shows the power of art to spark conversation.”
Conclusion: The Ethics of AI and Legacy
As AI technology continues to advance, Zelda Williams’ appeal to stop recreating her late father underlines the deep emotional and ethical considerations of such work. The debate over AI’s role in recreating likenesses of public figures will likely intensify as technology evolves.
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