Zelda Williams has stated that her visits to the social media platform X are primarily motivated by the need to publicly confront the misuse of her late father, actor Robin Williams.
In a post shared on Monday, she remarked, “It’s an easily accessible public space for me to refute misinformation and attempt to safeguard his legacy, no matter how futile that might seem.”
Williams utilized the platform to denounce an AI-generated video that falsely claimed to show private footage of the Good Will Hunting actor, who tragically took his own life in 2014, discussing conspiracy theories.
She emphasized that not only is the video fabricated, but it also lacks authenticity.
“Anyone who identifies as a fan and believes this clearly must have watched his films on mute because that voice is robotic and awful.”
In her post, Williams pointed out that anyone who resorts to using a deceased person’s likeness to strengthen their argument is exploiting the public.
“Let him rest,” she urged. “Just because he’s no longer with us doesn’t mean he becomes your puppet. Have some decency.”
Zelda Williams, a filmmaker and director of Lisa Frankenstein, has previously voiced her opposition to AI deepfakes, often framing the issue as one of consent.
On her Instagram stories on Monday, she expressed: “If you employ these ‘tools’ to recreate real individuals and make them act in ways they wouldn’t, you are undoubtedly stripping away their consent. If they, as human beings, would not or cannot choose to perform these actions for you in reality by their own free will, then you are actively manipulating their image … denying someone their autonomy and humanity.”
Just last year, Williams made a public request for people to refrain from sending her AI-generated recreations of her father.
Throughout his lifetime, Williams was protective of how his image was utilized.
In 1993, The Los Angeles Times covered a public disagreement he had with Disney over the use of his voice in promotional materials.
“The one thing I stated was that I would do the voice,” he told NBC’s The Today Show. “One condition is, I just don’t want to sell anything — be it Burger King, toys, or merchandise.”
When his Genie character from Aladdin was used for commercial purposes, Williams declared he would never collaborate with Disney again.
Moreover, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the Robin Williams Trust included a clause that restricts the use of his likeness for 25 years following his passing — meaning his voice or image cannot be utilized until Aug. 11, 2039.
Zelda Williams remains committed to honoring her father’s wishes, stating on X: “He protected me for years; I must at least attempt to repay that kindness.”