Robin Williams’ daughter calls AI tributes to her father ‘Gross’
Director Zelda Williams has called out fans who send her AI-generated videos of her late father, actor Robin Williams, asking them to “just stop.”
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Robin Williams’ children are bringing their late father’s Instagram account back to life – and they’re making sure his fans online know it’s the real one.
Cody, Zelda and Zak Williams have revived the beloved comedian’s Instagram account more than a decade after his death, saying they hope to create a trusted space for fans as artificial intelligence makes it increasingly easy to replicate his voice and likeness.
The siblings announced the move in a post on Williams’ account this week, nearly a month after what would have been the Oscar winner’s 75th birthday.
“As we recognize what would be our Dad’s 75th year, we’re grateful to see new generations discovering his work while longtime fans continue to celebrate the joy he brought into their lives,” the siblings wrote.
They said the account will be used to share genuine memories and material from Williams’ life and career while preserving the spirit of his work in an increasingly AI-driven online landscape.
“As technology evolves, we want this to be a safe, trusted place where the stories, photos, videos, and memories shared reflect his legacy with authenticity, warmth, and care,” they continued. “This is our way of sharing his unique talent and humor with the world, including the moments that made us and so many of you laugh, as we remember our Dad’s extraordinary life and work. He continues to inspire us and delight people all over the world.”
Williams’ Instagram account had largely remained dormant since 2014, the year the “Mrs. Doubtfire” star died at age 63. His final post before the account’s revival was a birthday tribute to Zelda shared just days before his death.
Williams, known for films including “Good Will Hunting,” “Dead Poets Society,” “Jumanji,” “Aladdin” and “Mrs. Doubtfire,” died by suicide after a battle with Lewy body dementia on Aug. 11, 2014.
Zelda Williams says account will combat ‘AI abuse’ of her father
Zelda Williams, 37, offered more insight into the decision on her own Instagram story, acknowledging that seeing activity suddenly return to her father’s account could be jarring for some fans.
“I’m sorry if anyone found Dad’s old page posting again to be triggering. Believe me, I know it’s a little strange,” she wrote in the since-expired story, according to Variety. But she said giving fans a place to find genuine footage and photographs of her father could help distinguish his actual work from AI-generated recreations spreading online.
“Making that space into one where people can find authentic clips and photos of him is one of the best ways we’ve now found to fight back against rampant AI abuse of his voice and likeness on here,” she wrote.
Zelda Williams has previously been outspoken about AI-generated recreations of her father. In October, she pleaded with people to stop sending her AI videos featuring Williams, arguing that the technology was reducing the work and legacies of real artists to artificial imitations.
“Stop believing I wanna see it or that I’ll understand, I don’t and I won’t,” she wrote in an Instagram story at the time, later adding, “If you’re just trying to troll me, I’ve seen way worse, I’ll restrict and move on. But please, if you’ve got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even, full stop. It’s dumb, it’s a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it’s NOT what he’d want.” She went on to criticize what she described as “horrible TikTok slop” that uses AI to imitate her father and other deceased artists.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY