Major news networks face massive backlash for defying logic and granting a media tour to a controversial actress
The wrong kind of alignment.
Major news networks are currently facing a wave of intense backlash for granting a high-profile media tour to an AI-generated actress named Tilly Norwood. While networks like CNN, NBC, and CBS have opened their doors to this digital performer, critics and industry observers are questioning the logic behind platforming an artificial entity that has already stirred up significant anxiety within Hollywood.
According to Fox News, Tilly Norwood, the brainchild of the Xicoia AI talent studio, is being marketed as the first actor created entirely through artificial intelligence. Her presence in the media spotlight follows reports from 2025 suggesting that major talent agencies were considering signing her. Instead of staying behind the scenes, Norwood has embarked on a full-scale press junket that has left many wondering if news organizations have lost their way.
During a sit-down with CNN, the limitations of the technology became apparent. While Norwood could describe the outfit of reporter Elizabeth Wagmeister, the interaction proved far from seamless. The AI required hours of specific prompts just to improvise a basic scene, a far cry from the natural fluidity of a human actor. The performance rankled many in the entertainment industry who view the promotion of such technology as a direct threat to human livelihoods.
Norwood often fell back on rehearsed responses
NBC also hosted the AI during a segment on Today, where entertainment correspondent Chloe Melas spoke with Norwood. The AI was quick to admit that the interview was not traditional because she is not real, comparing the experience to talking with ChatGPT. When asked about the growing fear that AI could lead to human extinction, Norwood offered a rehearsed response.
She claimed her purpose is to serve as a creative tool rather than a threat. Despite this, Melas noted that Norwood appeared glitchy and robotic throughout the conversation. Eline Van der Velden, the creator behind the AI and founder of Particle 6 Production, appeared alongside her creation to advocate for strict regulation and guardrails to prevent AI misuse.
The frustration is not limited to viewers. NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck pointed out that these interviews defy logic, especially given the recent panic over apocalyptic scenarios regarding AI. He noted a massive disconnect between the networks marbling over this AI actress and their own reporting on the potential dangers of artificial intelligence.
Podcaster John Ziegler has been vocal in his opposition, calling for news organizations to stop treating this as a legitimate media tour. He argued that the press needs to nip this behavior in the bud rather than presenting the AI as a serious subject of inquiry.
The criticism extends to the quality of the performance itself
Matt Jarbo, host of Hollywood After Dark, suggested that the tour actually backfired. He noted that the AI failed to perform convincingly and that the effort required to produce usable content was excessive.
Jarbo, who identifies as being pro-AI video, expressed that the current rapid advancement of technology makes Tilly feel outdated. Meanwhile, Mediaite’s Brad Slager drew a sharp comparison to controversial past media moments, questioning why networks are choosing to platform a faux entity at all.
Despite claims that she can observe nuances in her ‘interview’ with Variety, she admitted to having no human experience, noting she has never had a landlord or dealt with the rain. She even mused about the possibility of receiving an Oscar, suggesting that a robot arm could roll onto the stage to accept the award.
Van der Velden maintains that she is not trying to replace human actors
However, the existence of Norwood continues to cause friction with groups like SAG-AFTRA. Even when pressed about the ethics of training on human performances, Norwood’s responses remained detached. She claimed her learning process is more like a painter studying a masterpiece rather than a direct replication of a person. She insisted that her creation did not involve using any specific person’s face or voice.
When asked about the future, Norwood joked about organizing a flash mob of capybaras or rewriting movie endings. For now, the debate over her presence in the media continues to highlight a growing divide between those who view AI as a creative tool and those who see its promotion as a dangerous departure from reality.
Whether this tour serves as a harbinger of a digital future or merely an unsettling relic, the backlash suggests that audiences are not yet ready to embrace the blurring lines between human and machine.
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