Esther Yu's team slams illegal AI use of her voice and…
Esther Yu's studio has issued a formal warning against the unauthorized use of her voice and likeness in AI-generated dramas, cartoons, and videos
- Incident date
- Jul 2026
- Target
- Esther Yu
On July 29, 2026, the management team for singer-actress Esther Yu publicly denounced the widespread illegal use of her likeness and voice in AI-generated content. The issue gained traction after netizens identified an AI-produced short drama featuring a character with facial features highly similar to the actress and a voice that appeared to be a direct synthesis of her own.
What happened
The unauthorized use of Esther Yu’s identity extends beyond a single production, appearing extensively across various AI cartoons and short videos. Some viewers observed that as many as five out of ten shows featured characters utilizing her voice, with some costumes directly replicating her appearance from past acting roles.
In response, the actress's studio released a formal statement clarifying that Ms. Yu has never participated in the creation of AI content, nor has she granted any individual, organization, or platform authorization to use her image or voice. The studio labeled all such AI-generated dramas and videos as illegal and infringing products.
To address this, the studio has begun collecting and preserving evidence of the infringing materials. They have issued a strong directive to all creators and platforms involved to immediately cease their activities and permanently delete the synthetic content. The studio warned that any entities that ignore this demand or attempt to evade responsibility will face legal proceedings to protect the actress's legitimate rights and interests.