Met Gala deepfakes abound, trick fans, even Katy Perry's mom
The Met Gala this year wasn't just about real-life fashion; it became a battleground for technology too. The internet exploded with AI-generated images of celebrities like Rihanna and Katy Perry who actually skipped the event. Despite Rihanna's public announcement about her flu-induced absence, convincing fake images fooled some fans. Similarly, a deepfake image of Perry at the event deceived even her mother.
Perry's mother was fooled by AI-generated images
Perry, unable to attend the Met Gala due to work commitments, found herself ensnared by fabricated images circulating online. The singer was taken aback when her mother forwarded a photo, mistakenly believing Perry was attending the Gala. Complimenting her appearance, the singer's mother praised her stunning presence on the Met's staircase. In response, Perry humorously quipped, "lol Mom the AI got you too, BEWARE!, (sic)."
'Couldn't make it to MET': Perry debunked deepfake images
Soon after the incident, Perry took to social media to debunk the deepfake images. Instead of a flamboyant Met Gala outfit, Perry posted a subdued video of herself working on a new song in the studio. The caption on the post read, "Couldn't make it to the MET, had to work." Despite being known for her extravagant Met Gala looks, she has recently favored more understated styles without sacrificing fashion flair.
Take a look at these AI-generated images
Fans fell for Rihanna's perfectly aligned AI-generated Met looks
Meanwhile, disappointment struck fans who awaited Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's grand Met Gala entrance. Instead, AI-generated fake images of her flooded social media, one garnering over 2M views. The photo adhered perfectly to the Gala's theme, "The Garden of Time," fueling speculation. Soon reports of her illness debunked their authenticity. Though lacking creativity, Rihanna's earlier statement about taking a low-key approach led some to believe in their validity.
Take a look at this image here
Lady Gaga was also targeted by scammers
Joining the list, even Lady Gaga faced the onslaught of fabricated images. Social media was inundated with pictures of Gaga sporting an unbelievably avant-garde ensemble. Gaga's reputation for pushing fashion boundaries at the Met Gala almost lent credibility to the deepfake. With floral motifs reigning supreme in this year's trend, scammers sought to deceive fans for likes and shares. Fortunately, the singer's devoted fan base quickly cast doubt on the authenticity of the images.
