Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The rise of artificial intelligence has sparked plenty of concerns linked to the many, many ways people can harness that technology for nefarious purposes. That includes the creation of videos of real, actual people that they had no involvement with, which was the case with an ad featuring a fake version of the streamer iShowSpeed that aired during an NBA game.
The idea of recruiting a celebrity to endorse a product you’re trying to peddle to the masses is far from a recent concept, as there’s evidence that suggests vendors in ancient Rome used the name, image, and likeness of famous gladiators to draw attention to their wares.
That practice has been a popular tactic in modern marketing since the end of the 19th century, and in this day and age, it’s hard to watch more than a few minutes of commercials on television without encountering a famous face (or voice) shilling something.
It’s now easier than ever to land an endorsement deal thanks to the rise of the influencers who play a pivotal role in the internet economy, which includes many people who’ve transcended online fame and become bona fide celebrities in their own right.
iShowSpeed is a member of that particular club, and a member of his team has promised legal action is coming after an ad featuring an A.I.-generated version of the streamer managed to infiltrate the broadcast ahead of a showdown between the Kings and the Spurs.
A commercial featuring a fake A.I. version of iShowSpeed aired during an NBA game on FanDuel Sports Network
On Monday night, the Spurs hosted the Kings in Sacramento in a contest that was aired on FanDuel Sports Network Southwest.
Viewers who tuned into that channel before tipoff were treated to a curious commercial that appeared to show iShowSpeed, the streamer with over 50 million followers on YouTube, hyping up a promo code linked to a QR code that redirects to a “blockchain casino.”
yall am i tripping????? 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/C03hRaqZr3 pic.twitter.com/syG7FpnRS9
— Bala (@BalaPattySZN) March 18, 2026
The spot raised some immediate red flags among people who noticed it was filmed in front of the same backdrop as a video he shot for GQ, and his stilted delivery and a general aura of sketchiness made it pretty obvious he didn’t have any involvement with an ad that seemingly featured an A.I. likeness.
The streamer’s cameraman, who goes by Slipz online, made it clear the streamer didn’t have any involvement with the commercial after responding to someone who said they were served it on Twitch, and he hinted the team would be taking legal action as a result.
No this advertisement is illegal and will be addressed!
— slipz (@slipperrz) March 18, 2026
It’s safe to assume the ad was approved by someone at FanDuel Sports Network Southwest, which is currently owned and operated by the embattled Main Street Sports Group. They can use all the revenue they can get at this point, but the decision to air it could end up costing them in the long run.
BroBible reached out to FDSN for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. We will update this post if that ends up changing.