Zelda Williams Slams AI Videos of Late Father, Citing Lack of Consent

Zelda Williams has publicly criticized the creation and circulation of AI-generated videos featuring her late father, Robin Williams. She described a recent video depicting the actor discussing conspiracy theories as "robotic and terrible" and urged those responsible to "have some shame."

In a social media post, the actress and director implored individuals to cease using AI to recreate her father's likeness and voice, arguing that it disrespects his memory and exploits his image without consent. "If you cannot make your case without making a dead man make it more convincing for you, then tell me: who’s the one manipulating the public thru media now?" she wrote.

Williams expressed a general disdain for AI, particularly when used to replicate real people. She emphasized the ethical implications of using AI tools to make individuals appear to say or do things they did not, highlighting the removal of consent. "If they, as human beings, would not or cannot make the choice to perform these acts for you in reality by their own free will, then you are very much removing their consent from the equation," she stated.

This is not the first time Zelda Williams has addressed the issue. In October 2025, she publicly asked fans to stop sending her AI-generated videos of her father, calling the practice "dumb, it's a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it's NOT what he'd want."

She previously commented on the use of artificial intelligence in voice and likeness replication during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, suggesting her father would have supported the union's stance. She voiced concerns about AI models being trained to recreate actors who cannot consent, such as her deceased father. At the time, she described such AI recreations as "a poor facsimile of greater people, but at their worst, a horrendous Frankensteinian monster."

Robin Williams, known for his roles in films like "Good Will Hunting," "Jumanji," and "Mrs. Doubtfire," died by suicide in 2014 at the age of 63. Unauthorized AI-generated content of the actor has continued to appear online in the years since his death.