Whoopi Goldberg sounds alarm on AI deepfakes as fake weight loss ad circulates
Pranjal Chandra | THE TIMES OF INDIA NEWS SERVICE | Feb 06, 2025, 23:27 IST
Whoopi Goldberg warned viewers about a fraudulent weight loss ad featuring an AI-generated version of her likeness. She clarified her weight loss journey and emphasized that she had no involvement in the deceiving advertisement. Goldberg raised concerns about the dangers of advancing AI technology in creating misleading content.
Whoopi Goldberg is speaking out against the growing threat of AI deepfakes after discovering a fraudulent weight loss advertisement featuring an artificial intelligence-generated version of her likeness. The actress, comedian, and co-host of "The View" took time on Wednesday’s episode to set the record straight and warn viewers about the deceptive use of her image.
“I’m giving everybody a heads up,” Goldberg said during the live broadcast. “There’s a phony weight loss ad floating around online on Instagram that has me, AI mouthed, saying all kinds of stuff.”
Goldberg explained that the misleading advertisement used manipulated footage from her appearance on “CBS Sunday Morning” and altered it to make it seem as if she was endorsing a weight loss drug. The Oscar-winning actress expressed her frustration, emphasizing that she had nothing to do with the deceptive marketing campaign and urged her audience not to be fooled.
“Do not, do not indulge in this. Do not look at this. Just get rid of it,” she warned. “Because I don’t know what it is, I had nothing to do with it, and I don’t want y’all thinking this is coming from me.”
Goldberg took the opportunity to clarify that her personal weight loss journey was aided by the diabetes medication Mounjaro, which she openly discussed on “The View” in March. Reflecting on her past weight struggles, she recalled, “I weighed almost 300 pounds when I made ‘Till.’ And I had taken all those steroids, I was on all this stuff, and one of the things that helped me drop the weight was Mounjaro. That’s what I use.”
While setting the record straight about her own weight loss, Goldberg also issued a broader warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence, specifically its ability to create convincing but entirely false narratives. She expressed concerns over the rapid advancement of AI and how it can be weaponized to mislead the public.
“But this stuff? I don’t know who these people are,” she said, addressing the unidentified individuals behind the deceptive ad. “That’s the problem with AI. You don’t know who made it. But I’m telling you, it’s a lot of BS. Do not fall for it.”
As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, experts have warned about the dangers of deepfakes, which can be used to spread misinformation, manipulate public perception, and exploit celebrities’ likenesses without their consent. Goldberg’s case is just one of many examples of AI being misused to create fraudulent endorsements and misleading advertisements.
Goldberg made it clear that if she were ever to endorse a product, her audience would know it directly from her. “I don’t sell anything unless I say, ‘Hey, it’s me, Whoopi.’ That’s how you know it’s me,” she stated firmly.
Her comments highlight the need for increased regulation and public awareness of AI-generated deception. As deepfake technology continues to evolve, consumers must stay vigilant and skeptical of online content that appears too good or too real to be true.
“I’m giving everybody a heads up,” Goldberg said during the live broadcast. “There’s a phony weight loss ad floating around online on Instagram that has me, AI mouthed, saying all kinds of stuff.”
Goldberg explained that the misleading advertisement used manipulated footage from her appearance on “CBS Sunday Morning” and altered it to make it seem as if she was endorsing a weight loss drug. The Oscar-winning actress expressed her frustration, emphasizing that she had nothing to do with the deceptive marketing campaign and urged her audience not to be fooled.
“Do not, do not indulge in this. Do not look at this. Just get rid of it,” she warned. “Because I don’t know what it is, I had nothing to do with it, and I don’t want y’all thinking this is coming from me.”
Goldberg took the opportunity to clarify that her personal weight loss journey was aided by the diabetes medication Mounjaro, which she openly discussed on “The View” in March. Reflecting on her past weight struggles, she recalled, “I weighed almost 300 pounds when I made ‘Till.’ And I had taken all those steroids, I was on all this stuff, and one of the things that helped me drop the weight was Mounjaro. That’s what I use.”
While setting the record straight about her own weight loss, Goldberg also issued a broader warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence, specifically its ability to create convincing but entirely false narratives. She expressed concerns over the rapid advancement of AI and how it can be weaponized to mislead the public.
“But this stuff? I don’t know who these people are,” she said, addressing the unidentified individuals behind the deceptive ad. “That’s the problem with AI. You don’t know who made it. But I’m telling you, it’s a lot of BS. Do not fall for it.”
As AI-generated content becomes more sophisticated, experts have warned about the dangers of deepfakes, which can be used to spread misinformation, manipulate public perception, and exploit celebrities’ likenesses without their consent. Goldberg’s case is just one of many examples of AI being misused to create fraudulent endorsements and misleading advertisements.
Goldberg made it clear that if she were ever to endorse a product, her audience would know it directly from her. “I don’t sell anything unless I say, ‘Hey, it’s me, Whoopi.’ That’s how you know it’s me,” she stated firmly.
Her comments highlight the need for increased regulation and public awareness of AI-generated deception. As deepfake technology continues to evolve, consumers must stay vigilant and skeptical of online content that appears too good or too real to be true.