Kate CeberanoKate Ceberano has taken to social media to decry an AI post which utilised her recent tribute to late actor Sam Neill for engagement.
News of Neill’s passing emerged on Monday, July 13th with countless individuals from not just New Zealand and Australia, but around the world, paying tribute to the late actor. One of those who shared a heartfelt message in the wake of Neill’s untimely death was Ceberano, who posted an image of the pair together on social media.
“I sang with you in Molokai whilst you played your ukulele,” the recent ARIA Hall Of Fame inductee remembered. “Your gentle heart and radiant smile made me feel seen and loved.
“You will always be one of the special souls it has been such a pleasure to know you,” she added. “Aloha ‘oe til we meet again dear Sam.”
Over the weekend, the imaged posted by Ceberano was lifted without permission by a Facebook page called Golden Era Hollywood, which shares AI-generated images of celebrities. The page’s post featured an AI-generated version of Ceberano in tears, holding a smartphone with displayed the image of her and Neill.
“Kate Ceberano’s final photograph with Sam Neill has become a deeply emotional memory,” the page wrote. “The two looked happy as they enjoyed the evening together, never knowing it would be their last public moment.
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“After his passing, she remembered the laughter and warmth they shared, honoring not only the celebrated actor the world admired, but the kind and genuine friend she was fortunate to know.”
Ceberano herself took to social media this week to hit back at the insensitive post, noting she was “speechless” in regard to its content.
“What the actual…!!!!!!” she wrote. “My first interaction with an AI version of myself. I nearly threw up. I feel sorry to the good people who wrote meaningful comments to this specious post. You were tricked and I kinda think this is just the beginning.”
Ceberano is, of course, not the only celebrity to have had their image and sentiments hijacked by the page. The likes of Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Steven Spielberg, and even Neill's former partner Laura Tingle were the subject of posts shared by the page over the past week.
Likewise, Ceberano is far from the only musician to be the target of false, AI-generated content. In August 2025, Crowded House issued a warning for fans not to be fooled by a video in which a fake version of Neil Finn spruiked a treatment for men suffering from erectile dysfunction.
“We're not sure where this came from but please don't be fooled,” they pleaded, helpfully adding, “Neil's never had trouble with erections.”
