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Scarlett Johansson Criticizes AI Video of Her Condemning Kanye West’s Antisemitism
Scarlett Johansson attends The American Museum of Natural History’s 2024 Museum Gala at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, December 5, 2024. Photo: Anthony Behar/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
Actress Scarlett Johansson is protesting an unauthorized, AI-generated video that circulated on social media on Tuesday showing her and other Jewish celebrities opposing Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, for his recent antisemitic behavior.
The video begins with an AI version of Johansson, 40, wearing a white t-shirt that features on the front a hand with its middle finger extended. In the center of the hand is a Star of David and “Kanye” is written underneath the hand.
Other Jewish celebrities are featured in the AI-generated video wearing the same exact shirt, including David Schwimmer, Ben Stiller, Mark Zuckerberg, Steven Spielberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Sacha Baron Cohen, Drake, Jack Black, Mila Kunis, and Lenny Kravitz. The Hebrew song “Hava Nagila” plays throughout the video. It concludes with an AI version of Adam Sandler flipping his finger at the camera, followed by the words “Enough is Enough” and “Join the Fight Against Antisemitism.” Others featured in the clip include Jake Gyllenhaal, Woody Allen, Adam Levine, Lisa Kudrow, and Natalie Portman.
In response to the video, Johansson condemned what she called “the misuse of AI, no matter what its messaging” in a statement to People magazine. The “Black Widow” star also called on US lawmakers to pass legislation that would limit the use of AI.
“It has been brought to my attention by family members and friends, that an AI-generated video featuring my likeness, in response to an antisemitic view, has been circulating online and gaining traction,” she told the magazine. “I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind. But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it. We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality.”
In November 2023, Johansson threatened legal action against a company that used an AI image similar to her own, without her permission, for an advertisement. In May 2024, she accused OpenAI’s ChatGPT system, called Sky, of using a voice “eerily similar” to her own without her permission. The “Astroid City” star told People magazine in her statement that she has been “a very public victim” of AI, “but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us.”
“There is a 1,000-foot wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner. It is terrifying that the US government is paralyzed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI,” she noted. The actress said in conclusion: “I urge the US government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large.”
Johansson did not mention Ye’s name in her statement. She also included a blanket remark about his recent “antisemitic view,” without elaborating about how the rapper went on an antisemitic rant on X on Friday and then proceeded to sell a swastika t-shirt on his website Yeezy.com, following a Super Bowl commercial on Sunday night that directed viewers to his website to shop the item.
“Shameful. Tragic. Pathetic,” said David Draiman, the lead singer of Disturbed, about Johansson’s response to the video. “Beyond disappointing, ‘AI abuse’ is the concern, not the explosion of #Jew hatred, smh.”
Australian actress Isla Fisher, who is also depicted in the AI-generated video, urged people on Tuesday to unfollow Ye on social media for selling a swastika t-shirt. She posted on her Instagram Story: “Hey friends, can you please unfollow Kanye? Did you know this is the only thing for sale on his website after placing a Super Bowl commercial? F–k this monster forever. No Tolerance for this s–t.” Schwimmer has also responded to Ye’s recent antisemitic behavior and insisted that the rapper should be banned from all social media.
Ye has since deactivated his account on X. He has also been dropped by his talent agent, and Shopify, the e-commerce platform that the Yeezy website uses to sell items, shut down Yeezy.com as of Tuesday morning.
The AI-generated video went viral on social media the same day that a Jewish woman filed a lawsuit against Ye in Los Angeles court, according to Billboard magazine. She claimed that when she worked for the rapper, he subjected her to “antisemitic vitriol,” which included text messages that said, “Hail Hitler.”
“Ye carried out a calculated campaign to threaten and psychologically torment Jewish people around him, specifically plaintiff,” her lawyers said, as reported by Billboard. “There can be little doubt that Ye treats those around him, especially Jewish people and women, much worse than just a bully. He is a self-proclaimed ‘Nazi.’”
The post Scarlett Johansson Criticizes AI Video of Her Condemning Kanye West’s Antisemitism first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.