Robin Williams' Children Reactivate His Instagram Amid AI Misuse
In the fight against unauthorized use of their father's voice and likeness, Zak, Zelda, and Cody Williams have reactivated his account, inactive since his death in 2014.
In the fight against unauthorized use of their father's voice and likeness, Zak, Zelda, and Cody Williams have reactivated his account, inactive since his death in 2014.
The children of the late actor and comedian Robin Williams reactivated his Instagram account on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, which had been inactive since his death in 2014. As reported by IGN, the move is aimed at what his daughter Zelda Williams calls "the unchecked misuse of AI to replicate his voice and likeness" on the social media platform.
In a joint post signed by Zak, Zelda, and Cody Williams, they wrote: "As we mark what would have been our father's 75th year, we are grateful to see new generations discovering his work, while longtime fans continue to celebrate the joy he brought into their lives." They continued: "As technology advances, we want this to be a safe and reliable place where the stories, photos, videos, and memories we share reflect his legacy with authenticity, warmth, and care."
The message was also shared on other platforms, including TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, according to Deadline. In it, they emphasized their desire to share their father's "unique talent and humor with the world, including moments that made us and many of you laugh, as we remember the extraordinary life and work of our father. He continues to inspire us and delight people around the world."
Zelda Williams further explained the decision in a story on her own Instagram account. "I'm sorry if reposting on Dad's old profile was triggering for anyone. Trust me, I know it's a bit weird," she wrote. She added that turning the space into a place where people can find authentic clips and photos of her father is "one of the best ways we've found to combat the unchecked misuse of AI to replicate his voice and likeness on this platform."
She had already asked fans in October 2025 to stop sending her AI videos of her father. At the time, she said: "Stop believing that I want to see it or that I'll understand, I don't and I won't. If you're just trying to troll me, I've seen worse, I'll restrict access and move on. But please, if you have any decency at all, stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone, period. It's stupid, a waste of time and energy, and trust me, it's not what he would have wanted."
Zelda has previously strongly criticized the use of AI to recreate her father's voice, describing such recreations as "at best, a poor copy of great people, but at worst, a terrible Frankenstein, stitched together from the worst parts of everything this industry is, instead of what it should represent." In a statement reported by Deadline, she added that watching AI content of her father is "disgusting" and "infuriating," and that human legacies are being turned into "disgusting, over-processed hot dogs of human beings' lives, from art and music history, and then shoved down someone's throat hoping you'll give them a thumbs up and like it. Disgusting."
Zelda's opposition to AI recreations of her father's voice is not shared by actor Matthew Lawrence, who played Robin Williams' son in the film "Mrs. Doubtfire." Lawrence told Deadline in July 2025 that he would "love" for AI to recreate the actor's "iconic" voice. "I would love, of course, with respect and with the approval of his family, to do something truly special with his voice, because I know that for a generation, that voice is just so iconic," he said.
