Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
No verified Grimes release attacked Elon Musk. In August 2024, influencer and rapper Elijah Daniel promoted a hoax track called “Nuisance,” using an AI-generated imitation of Grimes’ voice and a lookalike in its video. Futurism reported that Newsweek initially believed the clip was genuine—but the available account does not establish that Newsweek published a story about it.
What was the “Nuisance” hoax?
Daniel’s teaser presented what looked like Grimes delivering a vulgar diss aimed at Musk, with references to Tesla and X. The video featured a person styled to resemble Grimes, including a shot of the lookalike flipping off a white Tesla. Futurism’s August 30, 2024 report says Daniel used Grimes’ Elf Tech AI voice system to create the synthetic vocal. Futurism’s report on the stunt
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Visions | $20.17 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Art Angels | $15.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Hafaxa | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Miss Anthropocene | $16.23 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
DARKBLOOM | $12.59 | Buy on Amazon |
The lyrics were part of Daniel’s performance, not authenticated lyrics recorded or approved by Grimes. The combination of a familiar voice, a visual impersonation, pointed lyrics and a plausible celebrity-feud target made the clip appear credible to viewers who encountered it without context.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What does “fooled Newsweek” mean?
Futurism reported that Newsweek initially thought the clip was legitimate. That is the extent of what the available account establishes: it does not say whether Newsweek published an article, issued a correction, or how long the mistaken belief lasted. It would therefore be inaccurate to state as fact that the magazine published a false report.
#1 Best Overall
- Shrink-wrapped
Daniel said he made the clip to see how readily people would believe an outrageous story when audio and visuals seemed convincing. That describes his stated intention, not a controlled test of how well people generally detect misinformation.
Was Grimes involved?
There are three separate questions here:
- Was her AI voice technology used? Yes, according to Futurism’s account of Daniel’s use of Elf Tech.
- Did Grimes record the vocal herself? The available reporting provides no evidence that she did.
- Did she approve or endorse this particular song? That is not established.
Grimes had previously invited people to make music using an AI version of her voice, as WIRED reported. That broader openness to AI experimentation does not show that she approved Daniel’s lyrics or the implication that she was personally attacking Musk. WIRED’s background on AI-generated music and Grimes
Rank #2
- Shrink-wrapped
Why did the clip seem plausible?
The deception relied on more than a synthetic vocal. Each cue supported the others: the voice suggested a recognizable artist, the lookalike supplied a visual confirmation, and the Tesla and Musk references made the supposed feud legible immediately. The short social-video format also encouraged viewers to react before checking where the clip came from.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
That is why this is better understood as a multimodal impersonation than as a case of AI audio fooling people on its own. A voice can sound plausible in a short excerpt without proving who made a statement; a face or lookalike in the frame does not authenticate the voice or the song either.
Rank #3
- Shrink-wrapped
What the episode says about AI music and consent
An artist’s permission to experiment with an AI voice model, where it exists, is not the same as permission for every use or endorsement of every resulting message. A work can use an artist-associated tool while misleading audiences into thinking the artist personally performed or approved it. The distinction matters especially when the fabricated words could affect someone’s reputation or be mistaken for a real personal statement.
Daniel framed the stunt as satire about credulity, but a satirical motive does not prevent a clip from misleading people as it circulates. Some viewers may have recognized the joke; others could see a repost stripped of its original framing. This episode demonstrates a particular combination of cues—not that people are universally unable to identify AI content.
Rank #4
How to check a viral celebrity song or clip
- Find the original upload. Reposts can remove captions, parody disclosures or other context. Check who posted the clip and whether the account identifies it as satire or AI-generated.
- Check the artist’s official channels. Look for an announcement from the artist or label and see whether the track appears in the artist’s verified discography.
- Seek independent confirmation. A viral post is not confirmation. Look for reliable reporting that traces the claim to an official source rather than repeating the clip.
- Separate likeness from authorship. A familiar-sounding voice, a lookalike or even the use of an artist-associated AI tool does not establish that the person made or endorsed the content.
- Be especially cautious with celebrity-feud claims. Personal disputes make dramatic clips feel plausible, which is precisely why they merit verification before sharing.
What remains unconfirmed
Futurism said neither Grimes nor Musk had publicly responded as of its August 30, 2024 report; that is a dated account, not a claim about their current positions. The reporting cited here also does not establish whether “Nuisance” received an official release or document what, if anything, Newsweek later published or corrected.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Shrink-wrapped
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
