Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman has voiced strong opposition to the use of artificial intelligence in recreating his distinctive tone — calling it “a form of robbery.”
Speaking in a recent interview with The Guardian, the Oscar-winning actor condemned AI companies and content creators who digitally replicate his voice without permission.
“I’m like any other actor — don’t mimic me with falseness,” Freeman said. “I get paid for doing stuff like that, so if you’re gonna do it without me, you’re robbing me.”
Freeman, best known for his iconic narration in The Shawshank Redemption and March of the Penguins, revealed that his legal team has been “very, very busy” dealing with several ongoing cases of unauthorised AI voice cloning.
He also criticised the growing use of AI-generated actors in Hollywood, warning that the technology could replace genuine human performances.
“Nobody likes her because she’s not real,” Freeman said, referring to a virtual actress currently being promoted by a major studio. “And that takes the part of a real person.”
The 87-year-old actor thanked his fans for reporting fake AI versions of his voice last year, acknowledging their vigilance as vital in protecting artistic authenticity.
Freeman now joins a growing list of Hollywood stars — including Scarlett Johansson, Emma Thompson, and Keanu Reeves — who are publicly pushing back against the use of AI-generated performances and voice cloning without consent.
References:
- The Guardian – Morgan Freeman: AI voice cloning is stealing my work (Nov 12 2025)
- BBC Entertainment – Morgan Freeman, Scarlett Johansson speak out against AI voice cloning (Nov 12 2025)
