Robin Williams’ children reactivate Instagram account after 12 years

Robin Williams’ Instagram account is active again, 12 years after his death, with his three children now using the page to preserve their father’s legacy and push back against the unauthorized use of his likeness in AI-generated content.

In the account’s first post after its revival, his children, Zak, Zelda and Cody,  explained why they decided to bring the account back.

“We’re grateful to see new generations discovering his work while longtime fans continue to celebrate the joy he brought into their lives,” they began.

“As technology evolves, we want this to be a safe, trusted place where the stories, photos, videos, and memories shared reflect his legacy with authenticity, warmth, and care. 

"This is our way of sharing his unique talent and humor with the world, including the moments that made us and so many of you laugh, as we remember our Dad’s extraordinary life and work. He continues to inspire us and delight people all over the world.”

The decision comes as unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes of celebrities, both living and deceased, have become increasingly common. 

Williams’ children are now using his account as a trusted source for authentic photos, videos and memories amid the growing use of AI to recreate his appearance and voice without permission.

His child Zelda, an actress and director, has previously spoken out against the unauthorized use of her father’s likeness. In October last year, she asked people who were sending her AI-generated videos of her late father to stop.

“Stop believing I wanna see it or that I'll understand, I don't and I won't,” she wrote in an Instagram story at the time.

She also called the practice “dumb” and said it was not what her father would have wanted. She said it was “maddening” to see people’s legacies reduced to crude AI recreations.

As reported by Variety, she raised similar concerns during the 2023 Screen Actors Guild strike, calling AI-generated videos of her father’s voice “personally disturbing” and describing such recreations as a “horrendous Frankensteinian monster.”

Williams’ last Instagram post was a birthday message for Zelda on August 1, 2014. He died just over a week later at the age of 63.

Williams was an acclaimed comedian and actor known for his freewheeling stand-up and diverse film roles, including “Mrs. Doubtfire,” "Awakenings," “Good Morning, Vietnam” and “Dead Poets Society.”