LBCI deepfake video — Sep 2026

Lebanese broadcaster LBCI is facing significant public criticism following the release of an AI-generated promotional advertisement for the 2026 Miss Lebanon pageant. The campaign, which utilizes generative AI to depict a university campus setting, has sparked a debate regarding the normalization of harassment and the ethical implications of using synthetic media in advertising.

What happened

The promotional video depicts a group of young men observing a woman walking across a university campus, which appears to recreate the American University of Beirut. The men are shown commenting on her appearance using terms like "killer" and "destruction" before suggesting she should enter the Miss Lebanon pageant. The video invites women between the ages of 18 and 26 to apply, framing the men's catcalling as a form of validation rather than harassment.

Social media users and critics have condemned the ad, arguing that it objectifies women and equates public harassment with desirability. Many viewers expressed that the campaign failed to empower women, noting that it centers a woman's potential on the approval of men. Beyond the thematic content, creators have criticized the technical quality of the production, with some likening the AI execution to amateur efforts and calling for the video's removal. The backlash highlights broader concerns raised by researchers regarding how generative AI models can inadvertently reinforce and amplify gender stereotypes present in their training data. As of the report's publication, LBCI has not issued a response to requests for comment.