AI Influencers Steal Stand-Up Jokes to Drive Traffic to Adult Subscription Sites

AI-generated social media accounts are stealing stand-up comedy routines to drive traffic to adult subscription platforms, according to a report by Wired. These synthetic influencers replicate jokes verbatim, including verbal tics, to monetize stolen creative work without the original creators’ consent or knowledge.

The practice involves AI models that appear as attractive women posting comedy clips that are actually stolen from real stand-up performers. These accounts use the stolen content to grow their follower counts and then redirect users to NSFW content on platforms like Fanvue or OnlyFans for financial gain.

The Mechanics of the Theft

Stand-up comedian Julia Jasunas discovered her joke had been stolen when a colleague alerted her to an Instagram post by an influencer named Aylen Skye. The video featured Skye telling a joke about renting out a room to a cute guy, which was identical to Jasunas’ routine, down to the “ums” and “ahs.”

Jasunas noted that Skye’s account lacked the typical negative comments found on female comedians’ posts. Instead of criticism about humor or appearance, the comments were uniformly positive, leading Jasunas to conclude the persona was artificial. The account advertised a website that redirected to Fanvue, a platform marketing itself as a top AI monetization tool for creators.

Platform Response and Scope

Jasunas reported the video to Meta for impersonation, but the platform rejected the complaint. Meta stated that because the account was not pretending to be Jasunas, but merely using her joke, it did not violate community guidelines. Jasunas described the response as indifferent, noting the company seemed unconcerned with the violation.

Wired identified eight comedians whose videos have been replicated by these AI-generated accounts. Many of these synthetic profiles follow each other on social media, suggesting a coordinated network. While most of Skye’s posts are now flagged as AI content, the account itself remains active and unblocked by the platform.

What should you do?

Creators and security professionals should monitor for unauthorized use of their content, particularly on platforms that allow AI-generated personas. Users should be aware that highly polished, positive-comment sections on comedy accounts may indicate artificial engagement rather than genuine audience interaction.

What to do and how to stay safe: AI

• Regularly search social platforms for your name and specific jokes to detect unauthorized replication by AI accounts.
• Report accounts that use your copyrighted material to Meta or other platforms, even if they claim not to impersonate you directly.
• Educate audiences on how to identify AI-generated content, such as checking for unnatural comment patterns or lack of critical feedback.
• Monitor links in social media bios for redirection to adult or monetization platforms that may be exploiting stolen content.

Step-by-step guide: Prompt Injection Warning Signs: How to Spot AI Manipulation

General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

How do AI accounts steal jokes from comedians?

They use AI to generate videos of synthetic personas telling the comedian’s routine verbatim, including verbal tics, to mimic authenticity.

Did Meta remove the AI account that stole Julia Jasunas’ joke?

No, Meta stated the account did not violate guidelines because it was not impersonating Jasunas, only using her joke.

How many comedians have been affected by this AI theft?

Wired identified at least eight comedians whose videos have been replicated by AI-generated accounts.