AI Deepfake Ads in Vertical Dramas
Many of you will already be aware of some of the deeply concerning AI-generated ads currently circulating within the vertical drama space.
And honestly, there is no softer way to put this:
There is a line. And it has been crossed.
Recent examples from Anyreel and Playlet have involved AI being used to create intimate or sexualised scenes featuring actors and creatives that were never actually filmed, never performed, and never consented to.
Some of the examples I have personally been sent are so appalling that I genuinely cannot even include screenshots of them here without risking social media platforms removing or banning the posts themselves.
That alone should tell people how serious this has become. In some cases, these AI-generated scenes appear to directly contradict the terms performers originally agreed to in their contracts. And understandably, this is causing a huge amount of distress.
AI Is Being Used to Create Fake Intimacy Scenes
One of the most alarming developments is the use of AI to digitally recreate actors’ likenesses in scenes they never participated in.
According to examples documented by Vertical Drama Love & Brendan Bradley, multiple shows are now being advertised using AI-generated sexualised content involving performers who did not consent to those scenes being created.
This is not just one isolated incident. And it is not just one app. Multiple examples have now been identified across the industry.
What makes this especially disturbing is that these ads are often being used purely for engagement and clicks on social media. Not storytelling. Not creativity. Marketing.
Why Creatives Are So Distressed by AI Deepfake Advertising
For performers, this goes far beyond “bad advertising.”
This is about consent. Control. Boundaries. And basic human dignity.
Actors carefully negotiate contracts, intimacy boundaries, image rights, and the types of scenes they are comfortable performing. Many specifically agree not to perform certain types of sexual content.
AI now has the ability to bypass those decisions entirely. That should concern everyone. Because once somebody’s likeness, face, voice, or body can be digitally manipulated into content they never consented to, we move into incredibly dangerous territory.
And one of my biggest fears is normalization. That creatives start being told this is simply “part of the industry now.” It should not be. This is not acceptable. And people should not quietly be expected to tolerate it.
The Problem With AI and Creative Contracts
Part of the challenge here is that the vertical drama industry is global and often structurally complicated. Rights can sit between platforms, production companies, agencies, distributors, and third-party marketing teams, making accountability extremely difficult to untangle.
Good people behind the scenes are actively trying to work out how to deal with this legally and professionally. But the reality is that the law is struggling to keep up with the speed of AI development. There is also the uncomfortable truth that many companies appear willing to continue using these techniques because the ads generate clicks and engagement. And right now, clicks are often being prioritised over ethics.
How Actors and Creatives Are Updating AI Contract Clauses
As a result, creatives and representatives are increasingly looking at tightening contracts around AI usage and digital replication.
One clause currently being shared within the industry states:
“No party may use any technology, device, or substitute to circumvent any provision of this agreement.”
The wording specifically addresses AI-generated recreations of image, voice, likeness, and performance without explicit written consent. The fact clauses like this are now becoming necessary says a lot about where things are heading.
What Fans Can Do About AI Deepfake Ads
One of the most important things fans can do right now is report these ads when they appear. Especially on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where reporting systems at least exist. Ironically, commenting negatively on the ads can sometimes increase their reach because social media platforms still count outrage as engagement.
Reporting is often more effective. And beyond that, audiences can also make decisions about where they spend their money, attention, subscriptions, and time. Those things are valuable. We vote with them every single day.
Why Speaking Up About AI Abuse Matters
One thing I feel strongly about is ensuring there is a visible record online showing that people objected to this.
That creatives did not quietly accept it.
That fans did not silently approve it.
That there were people willing to say:
This is not okay.
Because silence is often how harmful practices become normalized. And if this industry wants a sustainable future, there has to be a line somewhere around consent, dignity, and human rights.
Creatives Deserve Better Than This
Finally, to every creative, performer, writer, crew member, agent, manager, or production professional dealing with this right now:
You should not have to accept this as “just part of the industry.” You deserve better. Everyone does.
And while there may not yet be a perfect solution, there are good people trying to work out how to protect creatives properly behind the scenes. In the meantime, we keep speaking up. We keep documenting. We keep supporting one another. And we lean into our humanity.