Scarlett Johansson has condemned the use of AI after her likeness was used in a viral video of celebrities condemning Kanye West’s antisemitism.

The AI-generated clip shows celebrities such as Johansson, Ben Stiller, Mila Kunis and Steven Spielberg wearing white T-shirts featuring the Star of David inside a hand sticking up its middle finger above Kanye’s name.

It finishes with an AI version of Adam Sandler sticking his middle finger up at the camera and the words: “Enough is enough. Join the fight to end antisemitism.”

But Johansson released a statement about “the misuse of AI”, writing: “I am a Jewish woman who has no tolerance for antisemitism or hate speech of any kind.

“But I also firmly believe that the potential for hate speech multiplied by AI is a far greater threat than any one person who takes accountability for it.

“We must call out the misuse of AI, no matter its messaging, or we risk losing a hold on reality.”

She added: “I have unfortunately been a very public victim of AI, but the truth is that the threat of AI affects each and every one of us.”

She called on the US government to do more to limit AI, adding: “There is a 1,000ft wave coming regarding AI that several progressive countries, not including the United States, have responded to in a responsible manner. It is terrifying that the US government is paralysed when it comes to passing legislation that protects all of its citizens against the imminent dangers of AI.

“I urge the US government to make the passing of legislation limiting AI use a top priority; it is a bipartisan issue that enormously affects the immediate future of humanity at large.”

Read more from Sky News:
US defence secretary signals dramatic shift in military policy
Killer of MP was ‘exited’ from Prevent ‘too quickly’, review finds
NHS trust fined over ‘catalogue of failures’

Controversy surrounding swastika T-shirts

It comes amid a backlash after West, also known as Ye, sold T-shirts featuring a swastika and wrote a series of antisemitic messages on X.

On Sunday the US rapper bought a Super Bowl advert which directed people to his website, which featured nothing but a single white T-shirt with a swastika on the front alongside the code “HH-01” – which the Anti-Defamation League (ADF) said was code for “Heil Hitler”.

The ADF described the shirt, which was on sale for $20 (£16) as “further proof” of West’s antisemitism.

The e-commerce platform Spotify, which hosts many online shops and businesses, later deactivated his site.

In an emailed statement to Sky News’ partner network NBC News, Shopify said: “All merchants are responsible for following the rules of our platform. This merchant did not engage in authentic commerce practices and violated our terms so we removed them from Shopify.”

Antisemitic online posts

In recent days West posted antisemitic messages on X, as well as “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi”.

His account then had a “sensitive content warning” added before he deactivated it on Monday.

His spokesperson Milo Yiannopoulos said: “Ye is an intergenerational artist and icon who continues to redefine the limits of creativity and free expression. He has deactivated his X account for the time being.”

The Campaign Against Antisemitism was joined by Friends star David Schwimmer, who features in the AI video, in calling for Elon Musk to remove West from X over a string of offensive posts.

A$AP Rocky will not give evidence at his trial over allegations he fired a gun at a former friend and collaborator.

In court in Los Angeles on Tuesday, the 36-year-old rapper was asked by Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold if he had discussed the issue with his lawyers.

“Absolutely, your honour,” Rocky replied, saying he would invoke America’s Fifth Amendment right to silence. “I want my right not to testify.”

The star’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, previously said he was “eager to tell his story” and would “love the opportunity to do so”, but putting a defendant through a potentially long cross-examination can often be risky in criminal cases.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of firing a gun at Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, a former friend and member of the A$AP crew of collaborators they were part of at school in New York.

Ephron gave evidence earlier in the trial, saying their friendship had broken down and a feud allegedly came to a head on an evening in November 2021.

At the start of the trial, jurors were shown surveillance videos that prosecutors argue make it clear Rocky fired a gun at Ephron outside a parking garage in Hollywood.

However, Mr Tacopina said in his defence opening statement that the gun was not real, but rather a starter pistol carried as a prop. Ephron has been driven by “jealousy, lies and greed”, he told the court.

‘Non-lethal form of self-defence’

On Monday, Rocky’s tour manager Lou Levin became the second witness from his inner circle to testify that he carried a fake gun for security.

The star’s house had previously been broken into by a stalker and others, he said, so he told him it made sense to carry it.

“Security and I thought it would be a good idea, because of the prior violence,” Mr Levin told the court. “It’s just a non-lethal form of self-defence.”

The gun had come from a video shoot in the summer of 2021, he said, about three months before the night in question.

The defence has said it does not have the starter pistol now. The authorities also did not recover the pistol they allege was used.

Rocky is charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

Ahead of the trial, he turned down a plea deal that could have led to a 180-day jail sentence, in exchange for a guilty plea on one count.

He faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted.

The defence has now rested its case, with closing arguments from both sides expected later this week.

A Grammy-nominated music star, actor and fashion mogul, Rocky is the partner of pop superstar Rihanna, and the couple have two young sons.

Rihanna has attended court on several days to show support.

Further investigation is needed into the death of RuPaul’s Drag Race star The Vivienne, a coroner has said, after postmortem testing revealed an “unnatural” cause.

The body of James Lee Williams, who performed as the drag queen, was found at their home in Chorlton-by-Backford, near Chester, on Sunday 5 January.

Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington opened an inquest at a short hearing on Wednesday.

Williams, 32, was found in their bathroom, the court heard. Police attended and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

Coroner’s officer Amanda Edgar said postmortem testing had taken place and identified “an unnatural cause of death”.

Williams was identified by their father, the court heard.

Area coroner Victoria Davies said: “Given the unnatural cause of death identified on postmortem testing it is appropriate for me to formally open the inquest into the death of James Lee Williams.”

Further investigations are required, she said, and the case was adjourned for a full inquest, set for 30 June.

Williams, who grew up in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, before moving to Liverpool, won the first series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK and came third in the 2023 edition of Dancing On Ice.

Their drag name came from their love of legendary British designer Vivienne Westwood.

RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Michelle Visage was among those who paid tribute after news of their death emerged, saying she was “utterly heartbroken” by the news.

RuPaul said the world had lost an “incredibly talented queen and a lovely human being”.

Read more: The Vivienne – a ‘drag trailblazer’

Contestants from the show including Tia Kofi, Baga Chipz, and Cheryl, along with Steps singer Ian “H” Watkins, TV personality Kim Woodburn and Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney, were among those who attended their funeral in Denbighshire, North Wales, in February.

Williams also performed as the Wicked Witch of the West in a tour of The Wizard Of Oz musical across the UK and Ireland, and reprised the role in the West End in 2024.

They were due to be back on stage this month as the Childcatcher in a tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a role they first portrayed last year.