Will Smith has recently found himself in hot water after sharing a video from his summer tour that allegedly makes heavy use of AI for crowd shots.
The popular Hollywood actor and rapper kicked off his Based on a True Story tour in Scarborough on Sunday (August 24), coinciding with the release of his latest album carrying the same title.
Just before the concerts began, a video was posted on his official YouTube channel, titled “My favorite part of the tour is seeing you all up close. Thank you for seeing me too.”
This clip has stirred up quite a buzz as viewers pointed out it appears heavily reliant on AI to depict elated fans crying and waving handmade signs.
Some images show fans with their faces looking blurred or oddly shaped limbs, while a few viewers noticed some individuals seemingly having six fingers.
In one instance, a man’s knuckle appears to blur along with his handmade sign, which reads: “‘You Can Make It’ helped me survive cancer. Thank you, Will.”
Interestingly, in a different shot, a woman in front appears to be holding hands, but the headband of a woman behind her bizarrely seems to be over her wrist.
The Independent has reached out to Smith’s team for a comment.
Commenters on the YouTube video haven’t held back, with some labeling the footage a “fake AI crowd.”
“Imagine being this rich and famous, and still relying on AI for crowd shots… What a tragedy,” noted one skeptical fan.
Another commenter remarked: “The low-quality phone footage that’s been dramatically enhanced by AI looks ridiculous! Plus, there are scenes that seem to be generated entirely by AI,” pointing out timestamps of the supposed anomalies.
Some fans wondered aloud, “Why not use real videographers instead of this low-quality and weird content?”
Another user mentioned, “As much as I don’t want to say it, you can spot so many people in the crowd with six or more fingers, distorted faces, and blurry eyes. It really proves that most of the clips showing the audience are indeed AI-created.”
One user angrily criticized, saying, “Hey Will, these publicity stunts aren’t going anywhere. What do you think we are, sheep? Get real, it’s embarrassing!”
Meanwhile, the topic of AI remains contentious in the music scene, with various artists calling for stronger protections for their work while some are criticized for their AI usage.
This month, British rocker Rod Stewart faced backlash for a tribute that many felt was improperly handled towards late Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne during a recent performance.
The 80-year-old artist seemingly dedicated his 1988 song “Forever Young” to Osbourne, who passed away in July at the age of 76. Video footage from a concert on August 1 featured an AI-generated representation of Osbourne taking selfies with other deceased legends like Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and Kurt Cobain.
Earlier this year, Smith released his first album in twenty years, Based on a True Story. In a two-star review, The Independent praised his rapping skills while criticizing the lyrics as often falling flat and feeling clichéd on themes of failure and redemption.
Smith’s UK tour is set to continue tonight (August 25) in Cardiff, followed by stops in Manchester, London, and Wolverhampton.
