Would you want to be brought back like this? AI tributes divide grieving families
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Content warning: This article contains distressing references to celebrity deaths and artificial depictions using AI.
Two major celebrity deaths have sparked a disturbing new trend—and fans say it's gone way too far.
Videos featuring deceased public figures have been digitally ‘resurrected’ using AI, stirring backlash from both the public and loved ones.
Now, one rock legend is facing intense criticism after his onstage tribute crossed an uncomfortable line.
The controversy unfolded on 29 July, when Rod Stewart performed in Charlotte, North Carolina.
During the show, Stewart played a looping AI-generated video of Ozzy Osbourne—who died on 22 July—appearing in heaven alongside other deceased stars.
The video depicted the late Black Sabbath frontman with Prince, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Amy Winehouse, Tupac, Kurt Cobain and more.
Stewart introduced the segment with a speech, saying: ‘Very sad. A lot of those people died cause of drugs.’
He then added: ‘I’m still here, though!’
The response from fans was swift and visceral.
‘Yes the rumours are true: I went to a Rod Stewart concert last night and witnessed man-made horrors beyond my comprehension,’ one social media user posted.
‘This is the craziest, most disrespectful sh-t I have ever seen in my life.’
Another person wrote: ‘How about we just dig their corpses up and make them walk around—it’s just as ghastly.’
A third comment read: ‘This is a crime that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.’
‘I hate these AI videos that show fake videos of people,’ another said.
‘Someone made some of some of our family members that have passed away and I just find it creepy.’
Source: Youtube/jamesringland6141
This isn’t the first time grief has been digitally distorted in the name of tribute.
Following the death of Charmed actor Julian McMahon last month, AI-generated tribute content also circulated online.
Alyssa Milano, McMahon’s former co-star, publicly pleaded with fans to stop.
‘Charmed fans/accounts! I love and appreciate you so much but please stop using AI to fabricate emotion from Julian McMahon’s death,’ she wrote on social media.
‘It is totally unnecessary when there are real moments you can use from his nearly 35 years in the public eye.’
‘Please be considerate to Julian’s grieving family and friends during this difficult time.
The AI trend first gained notoriety after one user shared videos using the platform’s built-in tools to create scenes of deceased celebrities.
One viral thread featured fictional reunions between the living and the dead—ranging from Prince Harry and Prince William sitting beside Princess Diana, to Freddie Mercury with Brian May.
The Irwin family were also targeted, with Steve and Bindi appearing together in an AI-generated image.
‘This is so f***** up man,’ one user said.
‘Her dad died, if she sees this can you imagine the emotion? Take it down, delete it please,’ another added.
‘You should take these down. Very disrespectful,’ a third commenter wrote.
The trend has been widely condemned as ‘evil’—but with AI tools becoming more sophisticated, some fear it may only escalate.
Here’s a segue that naturally leads into the related article:
This isn’t the first time AI has stirred debate by placing someone in a fictional afterlife scene. The technology’s power to blend fantasy and reality has already sparked intense conversations online. One recent example caused a wave of backlash after a viral video took things a step too far.
Read more: AI places unexpected figure in heaven with Pope—viral video sparks outrage online
Should grief ever be digitised—and who gets to decide when a tribute goes too far?
Two major celebrity deaths have sparked a disturbing new trend—and fans say it's gone way too far.
Videos featuring deceased public figures have been digitally ‘resurrected’ using AI, stirring backlash from both the public and loved ones.
Now, one rock legend is facing intense criticism after his onstage tribute crossed an uncomfortable line.
The controversy unfolded on 29 July, when Rod Stewart performed in Charlotte, North Carolina.
During the show, Stewart played a looping AI-generated video of Ozzy Osbourne—who died on 22 July—appearing in heaven alongside other deceased stars.
The video depicted the late Black Sabbath frontman with Prince, Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, Amy Winehouse, Tupac, Kurt Cobain and more.
AI video shows Ozzy Osbourne in heaven. Image source: Youtube/jamesringland6141
Stewart introduced the segment with a speech, saying: ‘Very sad. A lot of those people died cause of drugs.’
He then added: ‘I’m still here, though!’
The response from fans was swift and visceral.
‘Yes the rumours are true: I went to a Rod Stewart concert last night and witnessed man-made horrors beyond my comprehension,’ one social media user posted.
‘This is the craziest, most disrespectful sh-t I have ever seen in my life.’
Another person wrote: ‘How about we just dig their corpses up and make them walk around—it’s just as ghastly.’
A third comment read: ‘This is a crime that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.’
‘I hate these AI videos that show fake videos of people,’ another said.
‘Someone made some of some of our family members that have passed away and I just find it creepy.’
Source: Youtube/jamesringland6141
This isn’t the first time grief has been digitally distorted in the name of tribute.
Following the death of Charmed actor Julian McMahon last month, AI-generated tribute content also circulated online.
Alyssa Milano, McMahon’s former co-star, publicly pleaded with fans to stop.
‘Charmed fans/accounts! I love and appreciate you so much but please stop using AI to fabricate emotion from Julian McMahon’s death,’ she wrote on social media.
‘It is totally unnecessary when there are real moments you can use from his nearly 35 years in the public eye.’
‘Please be considerate to Julian’s grieving family and friends during this difficult time.
The AI trend first gained notoriety after one user shared videos using the platform’s built-in tools to create scenes of deceased celebrities.
One viral thread featured fictional reunions between the living and the dead—ranging from Prince Harry and Prince William sitting beside Princess Diana, to Freddie Mercury with Brian May.
The Irwin family were also targeted, with Steve and Bindi appearing together in an AI-generated image.
‘This is so f***** up man,’ one user said.
‘Her dad died, if she sees this can you imagine the emotion? Take it down, delete it please,’ another added.
‘You should take these down. Very disrespectful,’ a third commenter wrote.
The trend has been widely condemned as ‘evil’—but with AI tools becoming more sophisticated, some fear it may only escalate.
Here’s a segue that naturally leads into the related article:
This isn’t the first time AI has stirred debate by placing someone in a fictional afterlife scene. The technology’s power to blend fantasy and reality has already sparked intense conversations online. One recent example caused a wave of backlash after a viral video took things a step too far.
Read more: AI places unexpected figure in heaven with Pope—viral video sparks outrage online
Should grief ever be digitised—and who gets to decide when a tribute goes too far?
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