The voice actress behind the Persona 5 character Futaba has deleted her Twitter account. The reason: An AI video that used her voice.
AI is currently revolutionizing many areas. It not only allows for the relatively easy creation of artworks but is also suitable for putting words in people’s mouths that they would never say. After all, millions have already seen Donald Trump, Biden, and Obama playing Minecraft together or creating an “Anime Waifu Tier List”.
However, not everyone finds it appropriate when their voices are misused for such fun. The voice actress Erica Lindbeck has withdrawn from many social media platforms now – because her voice was used.
Where do you know Erica Lindbeck from? Most probably know Erica Lindbeck from video games or anime. One of her most famous roles is Futaba Sakura from Persona 5. Others might know her from the YouTube series Helluva Boss, where she voices Loona. She can also be heard in the English dubs of the anime Sword Art Online, Kakegurui Twin, or Your Lie in April.
What happened? A few days ago, the YouTuber “themusicalcreeper7584” uploaded a video. It features the song “Welcome to the Internet” by Bo Burnham (link to YouTube), but sung in the voice of Futaba, i.e., Erica Lindbeck.
Lindbeck then explained that she does not agree with such videos and asked the creator to take the video offline. He quickly complied with the request.
Why doesn’t Lindbeck want such videos? According to Lindbeck’s (now deleted) tweets, she views such videos using her voice as “intrusive”.
Furthermore, AI-generated voices can also cause problems, as they can easily put words in people’s mouths that they never spoke. Just imagine someone creating a video where Erica Lindbeck claims that she “doesn’t like Persona” or “thinks Helluva Boss is stupid”. Even recordings where she simply says swear words – like in the song “Welcome to the Internet” – are uncomfortable.
In a tweet, she said:
It’s not about *this* video or *this* creator itself. I had content creators who made an AI video where my character disparages the show he appears in. Words are being put in my mouth that could easily be mistaken for my own.
As an artist, it’s so frightening. I absolutely believe these people create these things for fun and aren’t fully aware of the negative consequences such content can have on the people whose voices they use.
This is how the internet reacted: As some – unfortunately rightly – have suspected, part of the online community reacted with little understanding. Many re-uploaded the video afterwards and gave it titles like “You can’t make me delete this”. Others accused Lindbeck of starting a “hate campaign” against the original video creator, while others thought she “shouldn’t make such a fuss”.
However, there was much support from other voice actors, especially from the Persona universe. Erika Harlacher-Stone (voice of Ann Takamaki) said:
Erica Lindbeck is fantastic and sweet and warm and has been through hell in recent years. How can you AI people bully her on social media just because she told you that you can’t steal her voice without her consent??? You’re horrible, and I hope you have a bad day.
Robbie Daymond (voice of Goro Akechi) also commented on the incident:
About Erica Lindbeck. What the HELL is wrong with you people? Has social media and the internet completely destroyed your sense of decency? Turned your brain to mush? Bombed your empathy away, disconnected you from reality, and cranked your malicious narcissism up to 11? This makes me damn angry.
As a result of the incidents, Erica Lindbeck has now deleted her Twitter account.
This is just one of the incidents where AI and its use have caused problems – and it certainly won’t be the last.
