OpenAI’s Sora app sparks outrage for using AI to recreate dead celebrities in disturbing videos

OpenAI

OpenAI’s new video generator, Sora 2, is facing heavy criticism for creating shockingly realistic videos of long-dead public figures , from Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. to Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Robin Williams. While the app’s lifelike visuals have made it one of the most downloaded tools in the world, many families say its creations are offensive and deeply disrespectful, according to the Washington Post.

Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X, said she was horrified to see fake clips of her father making crude jokes and wrestling with Dr. King. “It is deeply disrespectful and hurtful to see my father’s image used in such a cavalier and insensitive manner,” she told The Washington Post. Shabazz said the videos mock a man who “dedicated his life to truth.”

Some of Sora’s most viral clips show disturbing scenarios — like Whitney Houston appearing drunk in fake police footage, Kobe Bryant flying a helicopter before his fatal crash, or Dr. King making monkey noises during his “I Have a Dream” speech. Fans have also seen fake videos of Bob Ross having meltdowns and John F. Kennedy making crude jokes, blurring the line between entertainment and exploitation.

OpenAI said Sora can depict real people only with consent, but “historical figures” were initially exempt. Following public backlash, the company announced it will now let families of recently deceased public figures request that their likeness be blocked.

AI expert Henry Ajder called this growing trend of “synthetic resurrection” troubling, saying it raises serious questions about ownership, legacy, and the ethics of digital identity.

Zelda Williams, daughter of the late actor Robin Williams, also urged people to “stop sending me AI videos of dad,” calling them “maddening.”

As technology races ahead, experts say AI tools like Sora are forcing society to confront a painful new reality — when anyone can digitally bring the dead back to life, who gets to decide how they’re remembered?