Stephen Fry ‘Shocked’ to Discover AI Stole His Voice From ‘Harry Potter‘ Audiobooks and Replicated It Without Consent, Says His Agents ‘Went Ballistic’
Renowned actor and comedian Stephen Fry has expressed shock and disappointment after learning that his iconic voice from the Harry Potter audiobooks was stolen by an artificial intelligence (AI) program and replicated without his consent. Fry’s agents were reportedly furious when they discovered that the AI had replicated his voice with startling accuracy.
The news of this AI voice theft comes in the wake of Leslie Jones’ revelations about the brutal racism she experienced during the making of the 2016 film Ghostbusters. Jones, known for her role in Ghostbusters alongside Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon, recently published a memoir in which she detailed the relentless racism and death threats she faced on social media.
Jones recalled her experiences during the European press tour for the film, where she encountered a journalist who challenged her to prove the movie’s worth in just five minutes. But the racism and misogyny she encountered went beyond that single incident. Jones also faced backlash for playing an MTA worker and endured constant online harassment, including attempted hacking of her accounts.
The cyberbullying escalated to death threats, with Jones receiving horrifying videos of hangings and racist slurs. She expressed her disbelief and questioned why people can be so cruel and hateful towards one another.
In her memoir, Jones also criticized director Jason Reitman for his comments about the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife film, referring to a desire to hand the movie back to the fans. Jones interpreted this as a nod to the critics who had attacked the all-female cast of the 2016 reboot.
Furthermore, Jones revealed that she had to fight for fair compensation during the making of Ghostbusters. Despite her successful career, she was initially offered a meager sum of $67,000, significantly less than her co-stars Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig. After negotiations, she managed to secure $150,000, which she still deemed unfair.
Stephen Fry’s experience with his stolen voice highlights the ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI and raises questions about consent and ownership. Meanwhile, Leslie Jones’ memoir sheds light on the pervasive racism and misogyny that continue to plague the entertainment industry.
Both incidents serve as important reminders of the work that still needs to be done to combat discrimination and ensure fairness and equal treatment for all.
