A new controversy has erupted online after an AI-generated video used deepfake technology to digitally recreate Martin Luther King Jr., sparking outrage from his family and civil rights advocates. The video, which appeared on social media last week, featured a lifelike recreation of King delivering an imagined speech about modern racial and social issues—a move that the King family quickly condemned as unauthorized and deeply disrespectful.

According to sources familiar with the project, a small creative team behind the video claimed their intent was to honor Dr. King’s message by “bringing his voice to today’s generation through artificial intelligence.” However, the family says no permission was ever sought from the King Estate, which has strict controls over the use of his likeness, speeches, and intellectual property.

Martin Luther King III, the late leader’s son, denounced the video, calling it “a serious invasion of personal and cultural integrity.” He emphasized that his father’s voice represented real conviction, not computer simulation. “My father’s words came from a place of deep faith and lived experience,” King said. “AI cannot capture that truth.”

The viral deepfake showed a digitally rendered King seemingly addressing present-day injustices such as voter suppression, police reform, and AI bias—issues that the real Dr. King might have engaged with if he were alive today. But experts warn that mixing fictionalized dialogue with a real historical image blurs ethical and educational lines.

Dr. Safiya Noble, an AI ethics researcher at UCLA, noted that “deepfakes of iconic figures risk rewriting history under the guise of creativity.” She added that even if intended as tributes, such digital recreations challenge our ability to distinguish genuine archival footage from synthetic content.

Following the uproar, the project’s creators took down the deepfake and issued a brief statement announcing they had “paused further production out of respect for the King family’s concerns.” Social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube confirmed they are reviewing policies on AI-generated portrayals of deceased public figures.

The incident reignites broader debates over AI’s role in cultural preservation versus exploitation. Hollywood studios, musicians, and estates have all faced similar dilemmas as generative tools make it increasingly possible to “resurrect” figures digitally.

For the King family, though, the stance is clear: any use of Dr. King’s voice or image must reflect the values he lived—and died—for, not the simulations of machines.

In the world of entrepreneurship, failure often teaches more than success ever could. But for one relentless entrepreneur, failure wasn’t a chapter — it was 39 of them. What set his story apart was not just his endurance but his pivotal 40th business, which transformed $10,000 in savings into a $100 million empire within five years.

The Turning Point

After decades of setbacks across nearly forty ventures, he found inspiration in the most unexpected place — a meeting where someone blew what looked like smoke into the air. It wasn’t smoke at all — it was vapor from an electronic cigarette. He realized instantly that this was a revolution waiting to happen. That spark became the foundation for Logic, the brand that would eventually dominate the U.S. e-cigarette market.

Armed with just $10,000, he dove in headfirst. Instead of chasing investors or waiting for ideal conditions, he took a raw, hands-on approach. He spent twenty hours a day visiting stores, personally pitching his product: a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. His enthusiasm was contagious — customers responded, retailers stocked up, and soon his brand was in thousands of locations nationwide.

The $10,000 Bet That Changed Everything

Unlike many startups that rely on outside funding, he bootstrapped his way forward. That $10,000 became his symbol of focus and scrappiness. Every sale mattered. Every conversation counted. And unlike businesses before it, this idea had a mission behind it — to help millions quit deadly cigarette habits through healthier alternatives.

Within 18 months, Logic reached over 100,000 distribution points. In less than five years, it crossed $100 million in revenue and was eventually acquired by Japan Tobacco through Goldman Sachs, a deal that validated every failure that came before it.

The “Focus Group” Hack That Made History

One of his most genius moves wasn’t about technology at all — it was marketing mastery. Without the funds for a formal focus group, he looked for a loophole that would give him legitimacy in the marketplace. Instead of spending $250,000 on a focus group study, he trademarked the phrase “The Most Trusted Brand” under the electronic cigarette category. Because it was a registered brand, he could legally make that claim — no focus group needed.

This trademark became a powerful differentiator. Soon, the slogan appeared on 2,000 New York City taxis, wrapping the streets in brand visibility. Retailers across the East Coast recognized it, and the brand’s credibility skyrocketed overnight, all thanks to one creative legal maneuver.

Lessons from the 40th Business

His story underscores a timeless entrepreneurial truth: persistence always beats perfection. The 39 failed ventures weren’t wasted — they honed his instincts, sharpened his resilience, and taught him how to recognize opportunity when it appeared.

From guerrilla marketing to working store-to-store, his journey reflects the grit every entrepreneur must channel to break through. When the 40th business finally hit, it wasn’t luck — it was the cumulative reward of decades of failure, refined into wisdom.

His words capture the essence of his journey best: “Volume negates luck. Every no is a step closer to a yes.” After 39 failures, that 40th “yes” became the billion-dollar answer he had worked his whole life to find.

By all appearances, Hollywood is a dream factory — a place where charisma, talent, and luck collide to create stars. But behind the camera lights and red carpets lies a conversation few inside the industry speak openly about: the spiritual and moral price of ambition.

For actor Omar Gooding, the idea of “selling your soul” in Hollywood isn’t a metaphor — it’s a moral process that begins with tiny compromises. In an October 2025 interview, Gooding explained that no one in Hollywood makes a literal deal with the devil. Instead, it’s the quiet yeses, the moments when comfort overrides conviction, that mark the beginning of the trade. “They don’t say, ‘Take this or you’ll never make it,’” he said. “They just put it in front of you. You choose.”

Those choices, he argues, create a pattern. Once you show that you’ll accept something you once resisted, the industry notices. “Hollywood knows who it can get away with what,” Gooding said. “One thing always leads to another.” The phrase “selling your soul,” in this context, means losing your say — doing what you’re told rather than what you believe in.

That moral tension has long shadowed the arts. Comedians like Dave Chappelle, who famously walked away from millions to preserve his creative integrity, often serve as examples of where conviction and career collide. In resurfaced interviews, Chappelle hinted that he felt manipulated and silenced by powerful figures who sought control of his narrative, warning that “they’re trying to convince me I’m insane.”

This isn’t just about conspiracy — it’s about agency. Hollywood runs on perception. Performers are rewarded for being agreeable, moldable, entertaining. Those who question the machine or refuse the script risk exile, while those who conform are elevated — sometimes beyond what they can handle.

“We see the ‘collections’ all the time,” Gooding explained. “When the bill comes due, you can tell. They made that deal long ago.”

But the story doesn’t end in darkness. Gooding also emphasizes that in today’s entertainment landscape, artists have more control than ever. With streaming, social media, and creator‑driven platforms, performers don’t have to “play the game” to be seen. Independent creators can build their own stages, speak their own truths, and reach millions without trading authenticity for access.

Still, the temptation remains — recognition, validation, quick success. And every generation of artists must answer the same question: What are you willing to do for fame?

As Gooding put it, “You just make the best choices you can. Because once it’s gone — your name, your peace, your soul — there’s no buying it back.”