Elyna, a twenty-something digital creation in a leather corset and miniskirt, performs stand-up routines for thousands of followers on Instagram, franceinfo reported.
The virtual performer is entirely generated by artificial intelligence. The phenomenon is expanding rapidly across TikTok and Instagram in both French and English.
Creators use software to swap a human comedian’s body with a virtual avatar. The resulting videos generate millions of views. These clips ultimately direct viewers toward OnlyFans profiles.
Female comics are the exclusive targets of this digital pillage. American comedian Julia Jasunas discovered her material copied word for word by a digital persona named Aylen Skye. Skye features blonde hair, a prominent bust, and a mini-short. The persona is one hundred percent artificial.
An investigation by The New York Times revealed that victims are predominantly young women who discuss dating and sexuality. No prominent male comedians are targeted by these automated cloning operations.
France provides local examples of the trend. Marseilles-based comic Salima Passon and performer Geryy experienced their material appropriated by synthetic accounts.
Audiences subject real performers to harsh commentary regarding their physical appearance. Automated avatars, conversely, receive uninterrupted praise from viewers.
Legal avenues remain scarce for affected performers. Comedy routines prove difficult to protect under current copyright frameworks. Attacking anonymous accounts involves prohibitive legal costs.
Instagram guidelines prohibit identity impersonation, but the platform does not restrict copying a joke. American comedian Olga Namer observed the disparity firsthand after an AI version delivered her material to greater commercial reach.
“I know my writing is good. It’s my breasts the problem,” Namer told franceinfo.
