Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda condemns AI-generated video of late father: ‘Let him rest’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda Williams has expressed her frustration over a fake AI-generated video of her late father.
The Oscar-winning actor and comedian was 63 when he died in August 2014. His wife, Susan Schneider Williams, said at the time that she hoped the focus would remain on “the countless moments of joy and laughter” he gave to millions.
Zelda Williams calls out those who believe AI video of Robin Williams is real
More than a decade after Robin Williams’ death, an AI-generated video purportedly showing the actor discussing conspiracy theories has been circulating online.
Zelda slammed the video in an Instagram post, saying it was clearly AI-generated and criticizing people who believed it was genuine.
The filmmaker said, “For those still being duped by falsehoods, that supposedly ‘private video’ of dad that I’ve been shown talking about conspiracies is clearly Al, and not even particularly convincing Al."
"Anyone who claims to be a fan who believes it clearly listened to his movies on mute because that voice is robotic and terrible.”
Zelda Williams urges people to let her dad rest in peace
Zelda also criticized those responsible for creating and sharing the video.
She wrote, “That said, a human made a robot to create it, and to you I say: leave him out of your delusional bulls--- and let him rest.”
“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 added.
Zelda Williams said she found AI-videos 'disturbing'
This is not the first time Zelda has spoken out against AI-generated content featuring Robin.
In 2023, amid the SAG-AFTRA strike, she said she had witnessed people wanting to train AI models to recreate actors who could not consent, including her father, Robin Williams.
"This isn't theoretical; it is very, very real,” she wrote at the time.
“I've already heard AI used to get his 'voice' to say whatever people want and while I find it personally disturbing, the ramifications go far beyond my own feelings."
"Living actors deserve a chance to create characters with their choices, to voice cartoons, to put their HUMAN effort and time into the pursuit of performance,” Zelda added.
Calling the fake videos "a Frankensteinian monster," she had added, "These recreations are, at their very best, a poor facsimile of greater people, but at their worst, a horrendous Frankensteinian monster, cobbled together from the worst bits of everything this industry is, instead of what it should stand for."
