The developer behind Night in the Woods* and Tunic has accused TikTok of using AI to create unauthorized ads that twist its intellectual property into offensive, unrecognizable versions—including depictions of its Black female lead character as a racist, sexualized caricature. The publisher, Finji, says it has repeatedly reported the issue to TikTok, only to be met with inconsistent responses and no clear resolution.
According to the developer, TikTok’s automated ad tools appear to be generating ads independently, repurposing Finji’s assets in ways that deviate sharply from the studio’s approved creative direction. While Finji acknowledges it runs ads on TikTok—including a recent promotional campaign for Tunic*—the studio insists its own ads are human-made and adhere to its brand standards. Fans, however, have shared screenshots of ads that bear little resemblance to Finji’s official work, with AI-altered visuals that the developer describes as deeply problematic.
TikTok’s initial response to Finji’s complaints reportedly dismissed the issue at first, stating there was no evidence of AI-generated assets in its ad system. However, after being presented with screenshots of the altered ads, the platform admitted the incidents occurred and promised to escalate the matter internally. Yet, follow-up communications suggested the problem might not be treated as a priority, with Finji told that the representative handling the case was already the highest internal team available.
A statement from Finji’s CEO highlights the frustration over what appears to be a lack of accountability. The developer questions whether TikTok expects gratitude for what it describes as the mistreatment of its creative work, particularly when the platform’s own tools are producing content that contradicts the studio’s values and artistic integrity.
- Finji’s ads on TikTok are manually approved and do not use AI.
- Fans have reported seeing AI-generated ads featuring Finji’s characters, including a Black female lead altered into a racist, sexualized caricature.
- TikTok initially denied using AI in ads but later acknowledged the issue after being shown evidence.
- The platform claims the problem stems from an initiative to help advertisers achieve better results with less effort, offering Finji the option to opt out.
- Follow-up responses from TikTok suggest the issue may not be prioritized, with Finji left waiting for a resolution.
The situation raises broader questions about how AI-driven ad systems operate on major platforms—and whether smaller creators are being held to the same standards as the companies that deploy these tools. For now, Finji remains in limbo, unable to stop the unauthorized ads while TikTok’s internal processes appear to lack clarity or urgency.
