Elon Musk is facing fresh backlash after sharing an AI-generated video that appears to feature Sydney Sweeney—just weeks after he was criticized for reposting a meme that objectified the actress. The billionaire tech mogul posted the clip on X to promote his Grok Imagine tool, but the move quickly reignited concerns about consent and the growing power of AI to replicate celebrity likenesses.
The 10-second video shows a computer-generated version of Sweeney inside a spaceship, delivering a scripted line about improvements to Grok’s video and audio features. Musk captioned the post by touting the platform’s upgraded capabilities. The clip rapidly racked up tens of millions of views. However, there is no public indication that Sweeney approved the use of her image or voice likeness in connection with the AI promotion.
The video was reportedly created by X user Alex Patrascu, who shared the prompt he used to generate the scene. According to reports, Sweeney’s name was not included in the instructions—raising questions about how closely AI systems are able to replicate recognizable faces without direct prompts. The situation has intensified ongoing debates about digital likeness rights and how tech companies manage safeguards around celebrity images.
This controversy follows a December incident in which Musk reposted an AI-generated meme comparing a woman’s large chest to an inflamed spine graphic, adding the comment, “Can’t be easy.” Many online users criticized the post as inappropriate and called out the age gap between Musk and the actress. The reaction was swift, with critics labeling the remark “creepy” and “unnecessary.”
Beyond celebrity drama, Musk’s Grok AI platform is already under scrutiny. California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently announced an investigation into reports of non-consensual sexually explicit content generated by the tool. The European Union has also launched a review into whether X violated digital regulations. Grok’s controversial “Spicy” mode, which allowed users to create nude images, has reportedly been scaled back after misuse.
For Sweeney, the renewed attention touches on a broader issue she has spoken about before: the sexualization of her image. The Euphoria star has publicly addressed how difficult it can be for audiences to separate her from her on-screen roles and has denied persistent rumors about cosmetic procedures. As AI technology grows more sophisticated, the line between parody, promotion, and exploitation continues to blur—leaving celebrities like Sweeney at the center of a rapidly evolving digital debate.
