Netflix is facing backlash over its latest true crime documentary, with viewers calling out the platform's 'monstrous' use of AI in telling the tragic story of Gabby Petito. American Murder: Gabby Petito, released on February 17, delves into the events leading up to Gabby's murder at the hands of her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie. The 22-year-old went missing in August 2021 while traveling across the US in a campervan with Brian.
Her family launched a missing persons campaign on September 11 after failing to hear from her for weeks - meanwhile, Brian had quietly returned to his family home in Florida, refusing to cooperate with authorities when questioned on Gabby's whereabouts.
Netflix’s docuseries presents Gabby’s story through a mix of journal entries and text messages from her final moments. However, the streaming giant's decision to use AI voice recreation to have Gabby ‘narrate’ her own words has faced backlash from viewers.
One disturbed viewer wrote: "This documentary using AI to recreate her voice reading her own diary... what a monstrous decision." Another added: "I know her family likely consented to them using AI to reconstruct Gabby Petito's voice for her journal entries, but something still feels incredibly wrong to me...".
A third commented: "It’s freaking me out that they used AI to read her journal entries in her voice. Technology [is] too advanced!". The use of AI in storytelling has raised ethical concerns, with some questioning where the line should be drawn. One viewer said: "I don't understand why they thought it was appropriate to have an AI generate recreation of her voice. Is that not insane?".
Gabby’s body was discovered on September 19, 2021, in Wyoming's Bridger–Teton National Forest. An autopsy later confirmed that she had died from blunt-force injuries to the head and neck and manual strangulation. During this time, Brian had fled his family's home in Florida, sparking a manhunt nationwide.
His skeletal remains were found a month later in Florida's Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. An autopsy revealed he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Next to his body, authorities found a chilling note in which he confessed to killing Gabby. It read: "I ended her life. I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made. I panicked. I was in shock.".
The case gained widespread media attention due to Gabby's online presence. She had started a travel blog just months prior detailing the couple's van life journey across the US. Since Gabby's death, a Florida judge has ruled in favor of Gabby’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit against Brian Laundrie’s estate, awarding a largely symbolic £2.3million ($3million) settlement to Gabby’s mother as the administrator of her estate.
The latest lawsuit names Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and their attorney, Steven Bertolino, as defendants, claiming the trio’s actions during the search for Gabby caused her parents severe emotional distress. Footage shown in the documentary shows Brian's parents refusing to co-operate with police and ignoring text messages from Gabby's parents following her disappearance.
