Dr. Bernice King, the daughter of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK), has urged the public to stop creating AI-generated videos of her late father, describing the trend as deeply disrespectful and exploitative.
King’s plea comes amid growing criticism of generative artificial intelligence (AI) being used to digitally resurrect deceased celebrities for entertainment or commercial purposes.
Taking to social media this week, King expressed support for filmmaker Zelda Williams, who had earlier denounced AI-generated clips of her late father, comedian Robin Williams.
“I concur concerning my father. Please stop,”
King reportedly wrote in response to Williams’ post.
Zelda Williams Condemns AI Recreations
Williams, in an earlier statement shared on Instagram Stories, condemned the use of her father’s likeness in AI-generated content.
“If you’ve got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even — full stop,”
she wrote.
“It’s dumb, it’s a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it’s NOT what he’d want.”
She went on to describe the AI recreations as “exploitative,” accusing creators of tarnishing the legacies of real people and turning their lives into “disgusting, over-processed hotdogs.”
Viral AI Videos Draw Criticism
Several viral AI videos of Martin Luther King Jr. have circulated on social media, depicting the civil rights leader in bizarre and disrespectful scenarios — including one showing MLK and Malcolm X eating seafood in a mukbang, and another portraying him as a UFC event host.
These clips, though intended as humorous or artistic, have sparked backlash from many who see them as undermining the historical and moral legacy of King and other civil rights leaders.
Ethical Concerns Around AI in Media
The rise of generative AI tools like Sora and Deepfake video apps has reignited debates in Hollywood and the creative industry about digital consent, copyright, and ethics.
OpenAI, developer of several leading AI models, recently pledged to give rightsholders more control over how their content is used, though many industry groups remain skeptical about enforcement and oversight.
Bernice King’s Continued Advocacy
Bernice King has long spoken out against the misuse of her father’s image online.
She previously condemned a viral meme comparing conservative activist Charlie Kirk to her father — and even to Jesus Christ.
The post, which used AI-generated imagery and received over 10 million views, featured the text “All Because of Words” and was widely criticized for distorting MLK’s legacy.
“There are so many things wrong with this. So many. I get tired, y’all,”
Bernice wrote in response.
