Hollywood Legend Declares War on AI Voice Theft
Acclaimed actor Morgan Freeman has launched a fierce critique against the proliferation of artificial intelligence tools that are cloning his distinctive, celebrated voice without authorisation. The 88-year-old star of The Shawshank Redemption has revealed that this modern form of identity theft is keeping his legal team exceptionally occupied.
Freeman did not mince words when discussing the issue, stating that unauthorised voice replication is tantamount to theft. "I'm a little PO'd, you know. I'm like any other actor: don't mimic me with falseness," Freeman told The Guardian. "I don't appreciate it, and I get paid for doing stuff like that, so if you're gonna do it without me, you're robbing me."
Legal Battles and AI Actresses
When questioned about whether his voice has already been misappropriated, the veteran actor confirmed that his "lawyers have been very, very busy" and have discovered "quite a few" instances of infringement. This is not a hypothetical concern for the performer, whose resonant narration has graced Oscar-winning documentaries like March Of The Penguins and recent nature series such as Life On Our Planet.
Freeman also took aim at the broader trend of synthetic performers, specifically criticising the "AI actress" Tilly Norwood. He expressed scepticism about the public's reception to such creations, asserting, "Nobody likes her because she's not real and that takes the part of a real person, so it is not going to work out very well in the movies or in television." He foresees ongoing conflict, noting that the actors' union's fundamental role is to protect employment for human performers.
The actor credits his iconic vocal quality to his early training with diction instructor Robert Whitman at his Los Angeles community college. "If you're going to speak, speak distinctly, hit your final consonants and do exercises to lower your voice," he recalled of Whitman's teachings, acknowledging the lasting impact of this guidance on his career.
A Growing Industry Conflict
Freeman's stance places him among a growing cadre of high-profile creatives, including Scarlett Johansson and Emma Thompson, who have publicly decried the unregulated use of AI in the entertainment industry. This issue was a central point of contention during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which involved 160,000 television and movie actors concerned about AI's encroachment on their livelihoods.
However, the industry's response is not monolithic. In a contrasting move, Oscar winners Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine have recently entered into separate, authorised agreements with AI audio company ElevenLabs. Caine's voice will be used in text-to-speech applications, while McConaughey plans to produce a Spanish-language audio edition of his newsletter using the technology.
This is not the first time Freeman has had to address the misuse of his vocal identity. In June 2024, he took to social media platform X to thank fans for their vigilance in alerting him to a scam using an AI-generated imitation of his voice.
Looking forward, Freeman shows no signs of slowing down his acting career. He will next appear in Now You See Me: Now You Don't, reprising his role alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco. The film is scheduled for release in cinemas on 14 November 2025.
