Fans Shocked When “Devil Wears Prada 2” Meme Appears Genuine.
A brief clip from the newly released sequel to “The Devil Wears Prada” featured a stylized meme of editor‑in‑chief Miranda Priestley, portrayed by Meryl Streep. The image showed Priestley in a fast‑food uniform with the caption “Would you like some lies with that?” The meme had an artificial look that many viewers assumed was generated by artificial intelligence.
Following the film’s premiere, artist Alexis Franklin revealed through an Instagram post that the picture was hand‑painted. She explained that director David Frankel had requested she create the piece, which took several days of intermittent work. Franklin emphasized that her goal was to achieve a low‑budget, “plastic” aesthetic reminiscent of early 2010s meme graphics, not to replicate AI output.
The artist’s time‑lapse video of the painting process drew hundreds of comments. While supporters praised her skill, some viewers questioned the authenticity of the work, citing the blurred text and robotic appearance as suggestive of AI. Franklin noted that such skepticism reflects a broader trend in which people increasingly doubt the origins of online images.
Franklin, who has been illustrating professionally for almost a decade, has a public portfolio that predates the rise of AI imagery. She confirmed that she was fairly compensated for the project and expressed concern that ongoing disbelief may harm human artists. The incident highlights the growing challenge for media experts in maintaining public trust regarding image authenticity.