AI Lookalike Nightmares a Musician

Published Date : 3/10/2025 

Nashville-based musician Stella Hennen discovered an AI-generated actress who bears an uncanny resemblance to her, sparking controversy and raising ethical questions. 

When news broke that Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actress, was in talks to sign with a talent agent, Hollywood was outraged. However, for Stella Hennen, a 20-year-old musician from Nashville, the reaction was one of confusion and disbelief. “My friend sent me a video, and at first I thought she was pranking me,” Hennen told Slate. The reason for her shock was simple: Tilly Norwood, a fictional character, looks exactly like her, a real person.

Hennen captioned a TikTok video with, “GUYS WHY IS THIS AI ACTRESS TILLY NORWOOD LOWKEY MY DOPPLEGANGER,” featuring her posing side by side with the avatar. The video quickly went viral, drawing comparisons to the “Joan Is Awful” episode of Black Mirror, which explores a similar premise. Xicoia, the talent studio behind Tilly Norwood, denies using Hennen’s likeness in any way. “Tilly was developed entirely from scratch using original creative design,” the company stated. “We do not and will not use any person or performer’s likeness without explicit consent and fair compensation.”

Despite the company’s assurances, Hennen, an indie singer-songwriter with aspirations of her own, is deeply unsettled. “I was double-taking every single picture I saw because it literally felt like I was looking at things I forgot I did,” she said. She shared her story on TikTok and spoke with Slate about the implications of this uncanny resemblance.

Reactions to her video have been mixed, with many suggesting she should take legal action. “Everybody’s like, ‘You should sue!’” Hennen said. “I’m just a girl. I’m 20. I don’t know anything when it comes to AI.” She reached out to her management and lawyers to seek their advice. “At first, I posted it kind of lighthearted, like, ‘Oh, ha, she looks like me.’ And then I think all the comments started freaking me out a bit. I was like, you know what? This is a little disturbing and scary because what are they gonna do with this AI character that resembles me a lot?”

One commenter suggested that an ex might have put her face into a database, which only added to her anxiety. “Is that how that works?” Hennen wondered. “So I definitely was freaking out, wondering if I signed anything, but I’m 99.9 percent sure I didn’t. It could be pure coincidence, or something like that could have happened, but it’s a world I know absolutely nothing about, and I’m scared of it.”

The possibility of seeing Tilly Norwood, who looks so much like her, in films is particularly distressing. “To be honest, it’s super disturbing and scary,” Hennen said. “Because I don’t know what could come of it. I think it is definitely something that people are gonna have to start worrying about because it is not just a me problem anymore. It really will start affecting all artists and all creatives, and I feel like it undermines the true creative process. You know, I’d rather be the one acting. Put me in a rom-com!”

Hennen is taking a cautious approach, listening to her legal and management teams. “I think I’m just gonna take it day by day,” she said. “I’m gonna listen to my lawyer and my managers, and I do want to spread the word about this. I don’t think AI belongs in the creative industry. There’s so many cons to it—they totally outweigh any of the possible pros.” 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the controversy surrounding Tilly Norwood?

A: Tilly Norwood is an AI-generated actress who looks exactly like Stella Hennen, a real musician. The controversy arises from the ethical implications of using someone's likeness without their consent.

Q: How did Stella Hennen find out about Tilly Norwood?

A: Stella Hennen's friend sent her a video of Tilly Norwood, and she was shocked by the uncanny resemblance. She then shared her discovery on TikTok, which went viral.

Q: What has been the reaction to Hennen's TikTok video?

A: The video received a mix of reactions, with many people suggesting that Hennen should take legal action. The viral nature of the video also raised awareness about the ethical issues surrounding AI-generated characters.

Q: What does Xicoia, the talent studio behind Tilly Norwood, say about the situation?

A: Xicoia denies using Stella Hennen's likeness to create Tilly Norwood, stating that the character was developed entirely from scratch using original creative design.

Q: How does Stella Hennen plan to handle the situation moving forward?

A: Hennen is taking a cautious approach, listening to her legal and management teams. She wants to spread awareness about the ethical concerns surrounding AI in the creative industry. 

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