Influencer Apologizes After Using AI to Replicate Black Model Photo Without Credit
An influencer is speaking out after being called out for using A.I. to replicate a Black model’s image.
Lauren Blake Boultier, a self-described host and founder with over 1.6 million followers, issued a statement after Tatiana Elizabeth discovered that a picture she took during the 2024 U.S. Open had been bizarrely replicated by Lauren on her social media.
In a TikTok video, Tatiana shared the side-by-side.
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“Okay, guys, come here. This photo to the right is a photo of me at the US Open in 2024. This photo to the left is a photo that I came across this morning on Instagram of someone who castrated me and decided to use my image and my environment,” she explained in a side-by-side video.
“I initially thought that it was one of those faceless AI pages, but come to my realization, this is an actual person with 1.6 million followers at that. And by no means am I trying to bash. This girl’s mental health is real. And I’m not a bully. I’m just. I’m a little perplexed.”
@tatiana.elizabethh it’s getting weird I’m moving to mars #fyp #greenscreen ♬ original sound – Whitney Leavitt
“Just want to know what was the reason. Has social media got into our heads that much that we are completely disregarding couth? Another part that gets me is that this has been up since this morning. I commented on it this morning. This girl has not reached out to me, she has not apologized, she has not given an explanation. And probably embarrassed, which she should be. But I think that the nice and accountable thing to do would be to reach out and at least apologize to the person whose photo you took. Like, what the heck? But, yeah, incrimination. Don’t do this.”
The since-deleted post changed the location to Miami, seemingly implying that the photo was taken at the Miami Open.
“That shouldn’t have happened, and I take full responsibility,” Blake said in a statement to TMZ.
“This came from an A.I. content system my team uses to generate images at scale. I did not see the original image or intentionally set out to copy anyone’s work, but that doesn’t change the outcome.”
“I understand this impacted another creator, especially when it comes to respecting original work, and I never want to contribute to that kind of frustration or harm within the creative community that I have been a part of for 10 years,” she added.
She has deleted the post and vowed “to ensure proper originality and respect for others’ work.”
“I’m listening and appreciate you,” she added.
At the same time, an AI singer is currently topping the charts on iTunes in various countries around the world.