Bette Midler and Tyrese Gibson Clash Over AI-Generated Song “Celebrate Me”

Bette Midler and Tyrese Gibson have taken opposing sides in a debate over the AI-generated song “Celebrate Me” by IngaRose.

Midler criticized the track on Instagram, arguing that AI music systems draw from the work of human artists without compensating them. Calling the practice “cultural genocide,” she said the song copied elements of countless musicians.

Gibson defended “Celebrate Me,” saying the song has connected with listeners who are struggling with depression, divorce and discouragement. He acknowledged that it was made with AI but argued that artists should focus on creating better music rather than criticizing the technology.

Other musicians, including Natasha Bedingfield and India.Arie, also criticized the song. Bedingfield suggested that the track sounded as though it drew heavily from Olivia Dean’s voice.

IngaRose’s Spotify biography says the project is created by a human songwriter using Suno to refine arrangements and produce the music. The song has surpassed 23 million Spotify streams, while IngaRose has more than 1.1 million monthly listeners.

The dispute highlights a growing debate in the music industry over AI-generated music, artistic ownership and whether technology can legitimately reproduce the work and style of human performers.