Drake and the Weeknd voice deepfake — Oct 2026
An anonymous creator used AI voice-cloning technology to release a song imitating Drake and the Weeknd without their permission
- Reported date
- Oct 31, 2026
- Target
- Drake and the Weeknd
The exact incident date was not established. This entry is dated by its source report.
In 2023, an anonymous creator operating under the name Ghostwriter977 released a track titled Heart on My Sleeve that featured artificial vocals imitating the voices of Drake and the Weeknd. The song gained significant attention and spread rapidly across the internet, highlighting the capabilities of modern voice-cloning technology to mimic recognizable performers.
What happened
The incident involved the use of AI to generate a synthetic performance that sounded like Drake and the Weeknd, despite neither artist participating in the recording or providing authorization for the use of their voices. The track was distributed on major streaming platforms before being removed following complaints from Universal Music Group. This event served as a prominent example of the challenges surrounding consent and ownership in the age of generative AI, demonstrating that voice-cloning tools can create convincing fabrications that listeners may struggle to distinguish from authorized recordings. The incident underscored the ongoing debate regarding the commercial use of an artist's identity and the necessity for clear distinctions between original performances and digitally generated imitations.