Rise Of ‘Disrespectful Depictions’ Of Dead Cultural Icons Forces Tech Company To Restrict AI Use

OpenAI blocked users of its Sora 2 artificial intelligence (AI) video app from generating videos featuring Martin Luther King Jr., after some users generated what the company described as “disrespectful depictions” of the civil rights icon.

Videos circulating online showed hyper-realistic simulations of King engaging in activities such as stealing from a grocery store and fleeing police. Bernice A. King, Dr. King’s youngest child, contacted the company to request the removal of AI-generated videos using her father’s likeness.

“Some users generated disrespectful depictions of Dr. King’s image. So at King, Inc.’s request, OpenAI has paused generations depicting Dr. King as it strengthens guardrails for historical figures,” OpenAI and King Estate Inc. said in a joint statement posted on X Thursday. “While there are strong free speech interests in depicting historical figures, OpenAI believes public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used.”

Sora 2, which launched in September 2025, allows users to create hyper-realistic videos. The app initially allowed users to generate videos of celebrities and historical figures — including Princess Diana, President John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Kurt Cobain — without permission.

After videos of Robin Williams flooded social media feeds, Zelda Williams, the late actor’s daughter, urged