Topline
Two photos of what appear to be Katy Perry attending the Met Gala on Monday are going viral on X, though the photos show telltale signs of AI manipulation and there was no sign of Perry at the gala at the time the images were posted.
Perry had not been seen at the event as of 8:00 p.m. ET. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Key Facts
One photo that has been viewed more than 8 million times and garnered more than 270,000 likes appears to show Perry in a large floral dress in line with the Met Gala’s nature theme, though the photo does not match official photos of the event’s red carpet and media staging areas.
The other photo, which has racked up more than 2 million views, shows Perry in a different dress and shows odd abnormalities on the singer’s thumbs and one of her eyes.
Perry liked both of the photos on X, formerly known as Twitter, according to her “likes” tab on her official profile.
As of 8 p.m. Eastern time Perry had not been seen in attendance at the Met Gala, though she did tell Extra last week people will “just have to see” whether she’s attending the event or not.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Key Background
The use of AI to generate and modify photos has become increasingly prevalent for celebrities and public figures, some of whom have argued for regulations on its use. Actors such as Kellen Goff, Jessie Pridemore and Belsheber Rusape Jr. have pushed for protections against the use of AI involving actors in the entertainment industry. AI-generated pornography of celebrities such as Margot Robbie and Selena Gomez have flourished on sites like eBay, where such photos were sold for money before the e-commerce giant took them down and suspended accounts selling them.
Further Reading
AI Nudes Of Celebs Like Margot Robbie And Selena Gomez Are For Sale On eBay (Forbes)
Kate Middleton's Photo Scandal And The Rise Of AI Doctoring (Forbes)
Can The Law Prevent AI From Duplicating Actors? It's Complicated (Forbes)
