Sure, Keanu Reeves is one of the most recognizable stars out there (he’s got box office hits like the John Wick movies plus he’s also known as Hollywood’s nicest guy, after all). But lately, he’s also been all over social media, which, as some fans know, is very unlike the actor.
That said, it still took some time for fans to realize that something was amiss. And by then, one social media account has already attracted millions of views and followers.
Celebrity DeepFake Videos Have Become A Growing Trend
Long before Reeves (supposedly) took social media by storm, deepfake celebrities have been appearing all over the internet. According to MIT, the term came from a Reddit user in 2017 where the user’s space was used to share pornographic videos that utilized face-swapping technology. Since then, this tech has made its way into popular culture.
For instance, there was that time when Steve Buscemi’s face was placed on Jennifer Lawrence’s head in a deepfake version of her 2016 Golden Globes backstage interview following her win.
There was also one of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg where he is talking about having control of data from billions of people. And then, there are also a series of deepfake videos starring A-lister Tom Cruise.
Those had been the work of visual and AI artist Chris Umé who got help from Cruise lookalike Miles Fisher. Fisher’s TikTok account, @DeepTomCruise, became an internet sensation the moment he uploaded a deepfake video starring himself.
“I had never made a number get that big that fast. From zero to 4 million views in less than two days,” he recalled in his articles for The Hollywood Reporter.
“Tens of thousands of comments, virtually all of them convinced this was actually Tom Cruise just sharing his life on the internet. People weren’t comparing me to him; they insisted I was him.”
But while Fisher has come forward with his deepfake video story, another user is only known to this day as the fake Keanu Reeves.
This Fake Keanu Reeves Channel Deceived A Lot Of Fans
Back in January 2022, fans were shocked to find Reeves on TikTok. The actor appears in a short video where he is seemingly asked, “What problems arise when you get old?” The response is supposedly, “I don’t know I don’t get old.”
And while Reeves is known for his ageless good looks, it may have taken a second for some fans to realize that the man in the videos is not exactly Reeves.
To be fair, the TikTok channel is called Unreal Keanu Reeves and while the person behind the channel doesn’t offer much information, its profile states that it’s all about “parody, life & eternal youth.”
Despite this, however, some viewers mistook the deepfake Reeves for the real Reeves, which may explain how the channel amassed 42.1 million likes and 8.7 million followers since it started.
At the same time, the channel has become the subject of much discussion on social media. Some are still convinced that the TikTok account belongs to Reeves.
“Everyone thinking this is deepfake, he has a tiktok. It's really him. I know,” one user wrote on Reddit.
Others are amazed by the quality of the deepfake itself. “This is really unreal engine?! Holy c***. I’ma have to see a behind the scenes, chief- I can’t even tell that it’s fake,” another Redditor commented.
And even after fans discovered that the channel doesn’t belong to Reeves, millions still couldn’t help but watch its videos. These include one uploaded in December 2022 where deepfake Reeves also becomes Santa. So far, it’s gotten over 100,000 views.
“Okay, I’m finally convinced this is not the real Keanu. But it has humor & heart, so I absolutely enjoy it,” one user commented.
There was also a video where deepfake versions of Reeves, Jason Statham and Timothée Chalamet showcase “Christmas in a Soviet movie,” which received close to 400,000 views.
“I must have been good this year… cause this is the best gift ever,” one user commented. Another wrote, “Why do I love this so much and I do not understand a d*** word.”
The Real Keanu Reeves Continues To Stay Off Social Media
Despite the deepfake videos of Reeves, the actor continues to stay off social media. Back in 2019, Reeves also admitted that he still can’t understand why there is much interest surrounding his stardom.
“I came to Hollywood to be in movies,” he began. “I feel really grateful that I’ve had that opportunity, but I’m just a private person, and it’s nice that can still exist.”
And while Reeves never ventures into social media, the actor does occasionally check on his IMDb profile. He also sometimes sees his memes, including the infamous one called Sad Keanu.
“I didn’t like that paparazzi was invading my private space. But then you can’t help but chuckle at that!” Reeves said.
