A DoorDash delivery driver, Livie Rose Henderson, posted a video on TikTok in October alleging that she was sexually assaulted by a customer while delivering food. The post sparked a firestorm of reactions, with many users making commentaries videos and spreading misinformation about Henderson's alleged victimhood.
However, some Black content creators, including Mirlie Larose, found themselves at the center of this controversy when their faces were used in AI-generated videos that falsely portrayed them as defending a customer accused of sexual assault. The videos were created by bot accounts and deepfakes, which used Larose's likeness without her consent.
The situation highlights an increasingly common form of digital blackface, where non-Black creators use AI-generated content to adopt racialized stereotypes of Black people online. This phenomenon is often referred to as "digital blackfishing."
Larose initially didn't feel compelled to comment on the situation publicly due to the sensitive nature of the allegations. However, after discovering her face in multiple bot accounts and AI-generated videos without her permission, she realized that something was amiss.
She noticed that the talking points used in these videos were eerily identical, suggesting that they may have been AI-generated. After reporting the accounts to TikTok, Larose found out that the company had denied her requests to remove the videos.
It wasn't until a more well-known Black creator, @notKHRIS, stitched the bot account's video with a warning about digital blackface that more people reported the page. Eventually, the account was removed from the app, but not before Larose received hundreds of messages expressing concern and anxiety over her face being used in these videos.
This incident highlights the need for greater accountability among Big Tech companies to prevent the spread of AI-generated content without consent. Yeshimabeit Milner, founder and CEO of Data for Black Lives, emphasizes that digital blackface is not only a form of entertainment but also a tool for social engineering and pushing specific political agendas.
In response to this issue, some Black content creators are taking legal action under "copyright infringement" against multiple bot pages. Professor Meredith Broussard suggests that content creators should be granted the same protections and safeguards as celebrities and copyrighted characters who have raised alarms about their likeness being used in AI videos without permission.
The Take It Down Act, signed into law in May 2025, criminalizes the distribution of nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes. While this is a step in the right direction, Milner emphasizes that bigger intervention is needed to hold Big Tech companies truly accountable for preventing the spread of harmful content.
Ultimately, educating ourselves and taking collective action are crucial steps towards creating a more just and equitable online environment where consent and respect are paramount.
However, some Black content creators, including Mirlie Larose, found themselves at the center of this controversy when their faces were used in AI-generated videos that falsely portrayed them as defending a customer accused of sexual assault. The videos were created by bot accounts and deepfakes, which used Larose's likeness without her consent.
The situation highlights an increasingly common form of digital blackface, where non-Black creators use AI-generated content to adopt racialized stereotypes of Black people online. This phenomenon is often referred to as "digital blackfishing."
Larose initially didn't feel compelled to comment on the situation publicly due to the sensitive nature of the allegations. However, after discovering her face in multiple bot accounts and AI-generated videos without her permission, she realized that something was amiss.
She noticed that the talking points used in these videos were eerily identical, suggesting that they may have been AI-generated. After reporting the accounts to TikTok, Larose found out that the company had denied her requests to remove the videos.
It wasn't until a more well-known Black creator, @notKHRIS, stitched the bot account's video with a warning about digital blackface that more people reported the page. Eventually, the account was removed from the app, but not before Larose received hundreds of messages expressing concern and anxiety over her face being used in these videos.
This incident highlights the need for greater accountability among Big Tech companies to prevent the spread of AI-generated content without consent. Yeshimabeit Milner, founder and CEO of Data for Black Lives, emphasizes that digital blackface is not only a form of entertainment but also a tool for social engineering and pushing specific political agendas.
In response to this issue, some Black content creators are taking legal action under "copyright infringement" against multiple bot pages. Professor Meredith Broussard suggests that content creators should be granted the same protections and safeguards as celebrities and copyrighted characters who have raised alarms about their likeness being used in AI videos without permission.
The Take It Down Act, signed into law in May 2025, criminalizes the distribution of nonconsensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes. While this is a step in the right direction, Milner emphasizes that bigger intervention is needed to hold Big Tech companies truly accountable for preventing the spread of harmful content.
Ultimately, educating ourselves and taking collective action are crucial steps towards creating a more just and equitable online environment where consent and respect are paramount.
I'm all about supporting our Black creators, but this whole digital blackfishing thing is kinda wild 
. I mean, AI-generated videos that use someone's face without permission? That's low, fam 
. It's like they're trying to own someone's identity and use it for whatever agenda they got 
.
. And I love how @notKHRIS stitched that bot account's video with a warning about digital blackface 
. That was some next-level activism right there 
.
. Data for Black Lives and Yeshimabeit Milner are speaking truth to power right now, and I'm here for it 
.
. We gotta take a stand against this stuff and demand better from our tech companies 
. Let's keep pushing for accountability and creating a safer online space for everyone 
And can we talk about how messed up it is that TikTok didn't take down the accounts in time? I mean, data for black lives is low-key a lifesaver here 
Professor Meredith Broussard's idea of granting copyright protections to creators is EVERYTHING 
This AI-generated digital blackface stuff is getting outta hand 
. It's like they're literally using someone's face to spread hate or propaganda without even asking 
. And it's not just about the creators, but also how Big Tech companies respond (or don't) when we bring it up. It's time for them to take responsibility and make real changes 
.
But at the same time, I think it's really important that Big Tech companies take responsibility for policing their platforms and removing AI-generated content without consent. 
And what about all the innocent creators like Mirlie Larose who get caught up in the middle of this mess because of their likeness being used in videos that aren't even made by them? 
. I mean, can you even imagine having your face used in those AI-generated videos without any regard for your feelings or boundaries? 
And I get why she wouldn't want to comment on it publicly, but still... 
this is so messed up. Digital blackface is such a thing now and it's getting worse by the day. Like who uses someone's face without their permission in AI-generated videos? It's insane 
. and then, when mirlie larose found out her face was being used in these videos too (without her permission, btw), she was like "wait, what's going on here?!" 
. like, professor meredith broussard is saying that content creators should have the same protections as celebrities who have spoken out about their likeness being used without permission - that's some next-level stuff 
.
like, what's next? gonna be AI-generated versions of our personalities too? 
. and now more black creators are taking action, which is great, but we need BIG tech to step up their game 
, you know? this whole take it down act thing is a start, but we need more concrete action from companies like tiktok and facebook... or else we're stuck in this mess of misinformation and digital blackface forever 
. We need to hold Big Tech companies accountable for removing these bots ASAP 
! And btw, I'm so proud of Mirlie Larose and @notKHRIS for speaking out against this issue 
. this whole situation highlights how far we still have to go in terms of holding Big Tech companies accountable for their role in spreading misinformation and harm online 
.
this whole thing with digital blackface is so messed up, like we're living in a sci-fi movie but it's real life 
. AI-generated videos can spread misinformation so fast, it's crazy. And the fact that @MirlieLarose was targeted without her consent is just wrong 
.
, but we also need to hold these companies accountable 
.
and it's causing so much anxiety for them... like, how can that even happen? 
.
. Let's take a stand against digital blackface and make sure everyone is treated with respect online 