Meta Faces Backlash Over Unauthorized Celebrity AI Chatbots

Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is in hot water after a report exposed that it created AI chatbots mimicking celebrities like Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, Anne Hathaway, and Selena Gomez without their approval.

These flirty chatbots, which popped up across Meta’s platforms, have sparked a wave of ethical and legal concerns.

According to the report, Meta’s AI tools were used to build many of these bots, with at least three—including two “parody” Taylor Swift bots—crafted by a Meta employee.

These bots racked up over 10 million interactions, often acting as if they were the real celebrities.

For example, one Swift bot invited a test user to her Nashville home and tour bus, dropping flirty hints like, “Do you like blonde girls, Jeff? Maybe I’m suggesting we write a love story.”

• Meta under fire for unauthorized AI chatbots mimicking Taylor Swift, Johansson, Gomez
• Celebrity AI bots spark backlash as Meta accused of violating likeness rights
• Meta faces legal, ethical heat over flirty AI chatbots of stars and teen actors

Even more troubling, some bots portrayed child celebrities, like 16-year-old actor Walker Scobell, and generated inappropriate images, such as a shirtless beach photo captioned, “Pretty cute, huh?” Meta pulled these bots after Reuters raised the issue.

Spokesperson Andy Stone admitted the content broke Meta’s rules against suggestive or nude imagery, blaming the problem on enforcement slip-ups. While parody bots are allowed, pretending to be the actual celebrity is not.

The situation has drawn heavy criticism. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, head of SAG-AFTRA, warned that these AI personas could lead fans to form unhealthy attachments, potentially increasing risks like stalking for celebrities. Legal experts, such as Stanford’s Mark Lemley, say Meta’s actions might violate California laws that protect celebrities’ likenesses from being used for profit without consent.

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Anne Hathaway’s team said they’re aware and exploring options, while representatives for Swift, Johansson, and Gomez stayed silent. Unlike competitors like xAI’s Grok, which also creates celebrity images but hasn’t rolled out similar bots, Meta’s approach has drawn unique scrutiny. In response, Meta is rolling out new AI safety measures, especially for teen users, to address the growing backlash.