OpenAI has officially paused the use of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s likeness in its AI generation platform, Sora, following a request from the King Estate.
According to a joint statement from OpenAI and the Estate of Martin Luther King Jr., Inc., some users had created “disrespectful depictions” of Dr. King using the Sora video generator. In response, OpenAI collaborated with the King Estate to ensure that Dr. King’s image and legacy are handled with the respect they deserve.
The company emphasized that while free speech protections are important, families and representatives of public figures should ultimately have control over how their likenesses are portrayed in AI tools. OpenAI confirmed that authorized estates can now request to opt out of having their likeness used in Sora-generated content.
Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, reached out on behalf of the estate to start this dialogue, joined by John Hope Bryant and the AI Ethics Council, who helped facilitate the discussions.
Statement from OpenAI and King Estate, Inc.
The Estate of Martin Luther King, Jr., Inc. (King, Inc.) and OpenAI have worked together to address how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s likeness is represented in Sora generations. Some users generated disrespectful depictions of Dr.…
— OpenAI Newsroom (@OpenAINewsroom) October 17, 2025
