What was meant to be a creative promo for Taylor Swift’s new single has quickly turned into an online debate. Fans are accusing the singer of secretly using artificial intelligence in a recent video, after spotting bizarre visuals that didn’t seem to belong.

The video was part of a scavenger hunt launched with Google to promote her new single ‘The Fate of Ophelia’. As it went viral, Swift’s fans, known as ‘Swifties,’ began to notice strange and unrealistic visuals.

Among the details that stood out were a bartender’s hand passing through a napkin, a coat hanger disappearing mid-frame, and a carousel horse with two heads. These oddities led many to suspect that the clip had been created using generative AI.

Social media backlash grows

Theories spread quickly across social media, with fans calling out the singer for allegedly using AI, something they saw as going against her past stance.

“Taylor Swift using generative AI to create videos after being staunchly for artists owning the right to their own work is the most hypocritical/tone deaf thing I’ve seen her do in a long time,” one fan wrote on X.

A trending hashtag soon took over social media platforms as disappointed fans voiced their concerns. The video was eventually taken down after the backlash. So far, neither Taylor Swift nor Google has issued any comment on the controversy.

Swift’s earlier comments on AI

The criticism has surprised many fans, given Swift’s previous comments about artificial intelligence. During the US presidential elections, she spoke out against AI-generated misinformation after a fake video appeared online showing her endorsing Donald Trump.

“It really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.

Following the current controversy, fans resurfaced her old post to question her apparent change in stance. “What happened to your fear of AI and standing up for artists whose work gets stolen?” one fan asked on X.