JENNIFER ANISTON says scammers are creating AI copies of her that are so convincing that even her family and close friends have been taken in by them.
The former Friends star has discovered that deepfake versions of herself have appeared in adverts for weight loss and collagen supplements, among others.
Jennifer Aniston says scammers are creating deepfakes of her that are so convincing that even her family and close friends have been taken in by them[/caption]
Jen pictured with Reese Witherspoon on Apple TV+ newsroom drama The Morning Show[/caption]
The AI version of the Friends actress that conned fan Paul Davis on Facebook[/caption]
And Jennifer, 56, says they are so terrifyingly real that her loved ones send her the ads, asking if she really has filmed them.
She adds: “It’s a very unsettling thing that’s happening in the world with AI.
“I get sent things from family and friends asking, am I promoting this product, did I make this commercial?
“And it’s so clear to me that it’s not me, but even at first glance you understand why someone would think it’s you.
“There are people out there though that will actually be watching that, and think that is you, you are promoting this brand, you are promoting this procedure, you are promoting whatever — and it’s just absolutely not true. So what is real?
“All you can do is try to get a hold of it as much as you can.”
Some of the scams have worked in conning Jennifer’s fans out of cash.
This summer, 43-year-old Paul Davis revealed he was duped into believing he was in a relationship with the star after receiving AI-generated videos and messages claiming to be from her.
Bikini body
The messages called him “my love” and contained flirty emojis and pictures. There was even a photo of Jennifer holding up a sign saying she loved him.
Unemployed and struggling with depression, Paul, of Southampton, was quickly manipulated. He was sent an image of what looked like Jennifer’s driving licence, then she told him she loved him and asked for money.
Believing the message was genuine, he sent the money in the form of non-refundable Apple gift cards.
Paul said: “I’ve got fake videos from Jennifer Aniston asking me for £200 and saying she loves me. I’ve paid, and I was bitten. Once bitten, twice shy.”
For more than a decade cyber-criminals have exploited Jennifer’s identity in scams ranging from spam and phishing emails to fake endorsements. Now they are regularly abusing her image in AI-generated frauds.
One fraudster made a “bikini body” advert for collagen supplements on social media using manipulated footage of Jennifer.
It seemed to show her discussing her diet and workout routine while plugging the product, which she had never endorsed.
In another ad, an AI likeness of Jennifer says: “If you’re watching this video, you’re one of the 10,000 lucky people who will get a MacBook Pro for just $10.”
Viewers then get a link to claim their device in the “world’s largest MacBook giveaway”.
It’s so clear to me that it’s not me, but even at first glance you understand why someone would think it’s you
Jennifer Aniston
It is such an issue that Jennifer has incorporated the dangers of AI and deepfakes into the fourth series of her Apple TV+ newsroom drama The Morning Show, which launched this month.
Jennifer, who co-created the show with Reese Witherspoon, plays TV presenter Alex Levy, who leads a storyline that forces viewers to consider how easy it is to manipulate the truth.
She says: “There’s a lot going on this season. There’s high stakes, there’s romance, AI, deepfakes, blackmail, lying, backstabbing . . . ”
Friends, the sitcom which ran from 1994 to 2004, made Jennifer a household name as Rachel Green and earned her a Primetime Emmy, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award.
Paul, 43, was duped into believing he was in a relationship with Jen after receiving AI-generated videos and messages claiming to be from her[/caption]
Paul, from Southampton, was sent an image of what looked like Jennifer’s driving licence before receiving a request for money[/caption]
He sent money in the form of non-refundable Apple gift cards after believing the messages were real[/caption]
After Friends she starred in films including Along Came Polly, The Break-Up, Marley & Me, We’re The Millers and Murder Mystery.
But despite her three decades of fame, Jennifer admits she prefers staying at home in the posh LA suburb of Bel Air to showbiz bashes and has never even been to some events, including the prestigious Met Gala.
She says: “I’m a homebody, but I also love to watch those things, it’s fun. Crowds are not easy for me. Since I was a kid I’ve not liked crowds.”
But she does like getting her friends ready for big nights out.
Recently the real Jennifer made a social media post where she did actually promote a product — her own hair care range, LolaVie.
In it she was seen blow-drying the hair of her long-time best friend and former Friends co-star Courteney Cox.
Jennifer says: “I’ve done my girlfriends’ hair at their weddings, I’ve done their make-up. Yeah, I love it.
I’ve got fake videos from Jennifer Aniston asking me for £200 and saying she loves me. I’ve paid, and I was bitten. Once bitten, twice shy
Paul Davis
“So I have a side hustle. If you need your hair and make-up done for your wedding or for anything — I’m available.”
And the likelihood of her own wedding has increased, after she recently found love with author and wellness coach Jim Curtis.
They were first photographed in Mallorca this year and sources say they bonded over a shared love of fitness and wellbeing.
In a rare glimpse into her private life, she even posted a snap of 50-year-old Jim gazing at a sunset on her Instagram.
Jennifer married Brad Pitt in 2000, but they split in 2005 after he grew close to Angelina Jolie while filming Mr & Mrs Smith.
She went on to date actor Vince Vaughn, then musician John Mayer, before marrying actor Justin Theroux in 2015. They separated in 2017. Now sources say her latest romance is “moving pretty fast”, and her friends are overjoyed for her.
Undoubtedly they will include her co-star Reese. The pair first met 25 years ago on Friends when Reese, now 49, guest-starred as Rachel’s sister Jill.
Now they produce The Morning Show together and each is said to be paid more than £1,475,000 per episode.
They have been there for each other through the highs and lows of their lives, including Oscar-winner Reese’s two divorces.
Jennifer says of their enduring friendship: “Oh, it’s a wonderful thing.
We’ve grown up together and being able to see where we were when we began and what we’re doing today, I’m very emotional about it. It’s sweet.
“This is a tricky business. We were so grateful just to get any job, let alone be here 25 years later. It’s quite special.
“We were both kids and we’ve come a long way. The trust that we have for each other, the support, the respect — an unbelievable amount of respect, and I don’t know how she does everything that she does.
“I don’t know what I’d do without her by my side, to be honest. She’s my support, we hold each other up.
“I feel like we’ve just grown into it and now it keeps accelerating.”
And she says of The Morning Show: “I think it’s wonderful for women to see a show that has women in power.
“And I think for Reese and myself to be here from where we’ve come from is kind of unexpected.
“At least, I don’t think we planned on being here in these seats.”
