Scarlett Johansson Takes Stand Against AI Misuse, While Wang Deshun Breaks Age Barriers with Unstoppable Passion

After Deepfake Celeb Video Targets Ye’s Hate Speech, Scarlett Johansson Criticizes AI Misuse

An Israeli Zionist group, Im Tirtzu, shared a deepfake video on Tuesday. It showed AI-generated images of Jewish celebrities. The video featured Drake, Lenny Kravitz, Adam Levine, Simon & Garfunkel, Jack Black, Jake Gyllenhaal, Mila Kunis, and Adam Sandler. They wore T-shirts with a hand showing the middle finger. The hand had a Jewish star, and the shirt said “Kanye.”

The video had a strong message: “Enough is enough” and “Join the fight against antisemitism.” It responded to rapper Ye’s recent hateful posts. He shared antisemitic, homophobic, sexist, and ableist slurs. He even said, “I’m a Nazi” and “I love Hitler.” The video called for action against his remarks.

Ye sold an antisemitic T-shirt on his website. It featured a Nazi swastika and the code “HH-01,” meaning “Heil Hitler.” A strange ad for the shirt aired in some markets during the Super Bowl. Shopify removed the Yeezy website on Tuesday. The company said the shirt broke its rules.

The Israeli group Im Tirtzu responded with a deepfake video. The video played an electronic version of “Hava Nagila,” a famous Jewish folk song. It showed AI-generated images of Jewish celebrities wearing a different T-shirt. The shirt had a Jewish star and a hand showing the middle finger. It also said “Kanye” underneath. Celebrities in the video included Scarlett Johansson, Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Mark Zuckerberg, Sacha Baron Cohen, David Schwimmer, and Lisa Kudrow.

Scarlett Johansson was the first star to speak out. She strongly opposed the AI video and also told People magazine that AI misuse is dangerous. She said her family and friends told her about the video and confirmed that she had no part in it.

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“I am a Jewish woman,” she said. “I do not tolerate antisemitism or hate speech.” However, she warned that AI can spread hate more than any one person. She said AI-generated content could make it harder to know what is real. She urged lawmakers to take action.

“We must stop AI misuse,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what the message is. If we don’t stop it, we will lose touch with reality.”

Scarlett Johansson has spoken out about AI misuse before. In November 2023, she threatened legal action when a company used her AI likeness in an ad. She was also upset when a voice similar to hers became the official voice of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

In her new statement, she did not mention Kanye West by name. Instead, she urged the U.S. government to create laws limiting AI use. She called it a serious issue that affects everyone’s future.

Before the AI video appeared, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned Ye’s swastika shirt. The ADL said it was more proof of his antisemitism. They explained that the swastika was Hitler’s main Nazi symbol. It spread hate and fear in the 20th century and still does today. The ADL said there was no excuse for Ye’s actions. They also criticized him for advertising his website during the Super Bowl. They said this exposed his hateful message to an even bigger audience.

On Monday, Ye deleted his X account. Before that, actor David Schwimmer asked X owner Elon Musk to ban Ye. He said the rapper was spreading hate. Singer Charlie Puth also spoke out. He begged Ye to stop promoting dangerous ideas.

Musician Matthew Koma responded in his way. On Tuesday, he posted a picture of a shirt that said “F**k Ye.” He said he was selling it to raise money for a Holocaust survivor charity. He added a link in his bio for people to buy the shirt.

The Israeli-American Council (IAC) launched a new campaign on February 12. They called it “Hate Is Out of Fashion.” The campaign features a Star of David T-shirt. The goal is to promote Jewish pride, strength, and unity.

IAC created the shirt in response to Kanye West’s swastika merchandise. They wanted to fight back against antisemitism. IAC CEO Elan Carr spoke about the issue. He said antisemitism is a threat to everyone, not just Jews.

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He also said American Jews and Israeli-Americans are standing against hate. He criticized the West for trying to profit from antisemitism and explained that their campaign mirrors West’s fashion. However, instead of hate, it spreads a message of pride, unity, and American values.

The Inspiring Journey of 89-Year-Old Wang Deshun, the Grandfather Who Defies Age

Wang Deshun is an 89-year-old actor and model from China. He is known as the “coolest grandpa” by many. Recently, he shocked audiences by voicing the main villain in Ne Zha 2, a popular animated film. The movie is breaking box office records and getting great reviews. Wang plays Wuliang Xianweng, a character who seems kind at first but later shows his evil side. People think Wang’s strong voice makes him a great choice for this role.

Wang was born in Shenyang, China, and had an interesting life before becoming famous. He worked as a tram conductor and factory worker. At 24, he became a theatre actor. After 25 years, he felt his career was stuck. He moved to Beijing with his wife and kids to start fresh.

79-year-old grandpa struts the runway

Wang Deshun is famous in China for his energetic spirit and amazing fitness, even at 89 years old. In 2015, when he was 79, he shocked everyone by walking the runway shirtless during China Fashion Week. This bold move made him an internet sensation. Wang works hard to improve his stage performances. At 65, he learned to ride a horse. 

His daughter taught him how to DJ, and he became an amateur DJ at 80. At 85, Wang achieved another amazing milestone. He became China’s oldest person to get a pilot’s license. The Civil Aviation Administration was surprised by his application because of his age. But Wang passed two tough physical exams and all required tests. He studied for eight hours every day for three months. 

Wang returned to the spotlight at Shanghai Fashion Week in April. He looked as energetic as ever. One social media user wrote, “I’m 32, and I’m not half as energetic as him.” Wang’s career includes roles in famous Chinese films and TV shows. These include Chuang Guandong (2008), Reign of Assassins (2010), and 20 Once Again (2015). He also voiced a character in the 2016 animated film Big Fish & Begonia.

In June 2022, Wang Deshun spent three days dubbing the character Wuliang Xianweng for Ne Zha 2. The production team only gave him his lines to read. They didn’t reveal the full plot, so Wang didn’t know much about the story. Despite voicing the antagonist, many viewers thought he was the main character, Ne Zha. This was because of his amazing performance. Wang’s approach to life is similar to his on-screen roles. 

He is a character who fights against fate and injustice. He lives by his own rules. “I do whatever I want to do. It is never too late,” he said. Ne Zha 2 is based on Chinese mythology. It has become China’s highest-grossing film, earning over nine billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) since its release on January 29. Wang’s performance has captured the hearts of audiences across the nation.