Another year, another viral deepfake featuring Katy Perry at the Met Gala, and yet again, she wasn’t even present.
Images of the pop sensation in a chic black designer gown went viral on social media during Monday night’s event, perfectly aligning with the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” theme. However, these images were generated using AI. Perry was quick to clarify that she was not at the Met Gala; she was on tour instead.
Perry’s Response
“Couldn’t make it to the MET, I’m on The Lifetimes Tour (see you in Houston tomorrow IRL),” she shared on Instagram along with the fabricated images.
She humorously added a dig at AI confusion: “P.s. this year I was actually with my mom, so she’s safe from the bots… but I’m sending prayers to the rest of y’all.”
The Recurring Hoax
This incident marks the second consecutive year that Perry has gone viral due to an AI-generated Met Gala appearance. Last year, a fabricated image of her in a floral ball gown fooled thousands, even her own mother.
These deepfakes are becoming increasingly difficult to identify. A false post claiming Perry wore an unprecedented Mugler fabric garnered over 400,000 views and was incorrectly attributed to Getty Images.
The proliferation of convincing AI-generated content is raising concerns, particularly since it deceives not only fans but also family members.
AI is now fabricating appearances for celebrities at events they don’t attend, and millions continue to fall for it.
Perry is continuing her “Lifetimes Tour,” with her next show set for Houston. Meanwhile, the internet grapples with distinguishing reality from algorithmic creation.
Are deepfakes the emerging trend in celebrity public relations?
