Frida Kahlo deepfake video — Nov 2026

The fashion brand Les Énervés sparked significant public criticism after releasing an AI-generated advertisement that depicted the late artist Frida Kahlo in a controversial and irreverent manner. The campaign, which drew sharp rebukes for disrespecting the artist's memory, utilized synthetic media to place Kahlo in scenarios that critics argue distort her historical reality.

What happened

The advertisement, directed by brand founder Wakim Krari, was produced using AI technology and was first shared on Instagram in October before gaining viral attention on X. The video features a deepfake of Frida Kahlo driving a bus through Paris while chewing bubblegum and consuming alcohol, a depiction that critics noted ignores the real artist's documented struggles with addiction. The narrative includes other historical figures, such as the Mona Lisa and Vincent van Gogh, and features the AI-generated Kahlo saying, "It’s Frida, bitch," set to a soundtrack by Britney Spears.

Les Énervés attempted to frame the project as a form of reclamation, suggesting that by placing Kahlo behind the wheel, they were protecting her from the historical accident that caused her lifelong physical pain. However, the public response was largely negative, with many social media users labeling the content as disrespectful to the dead. The brand also utilized AI to recreate a Renault TN bus, a vehicle type associated with the era of Kahlo’s 1939 Paris exhibition. Despite the backlash, the brand has indicated that this campaign is part of a larger series, promising future content featuring new "muses" and hidden details.