Machine Gun Kelly says anyone who brings AI around him is fired, after a fan asked him to keep it off his music and merch
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Machine Gun Kelly needed 9 words to answer a fan’s question about AI.
On November 5, 2026, he quote-posted a fan on X who had asked him a week earlier: “please don’t ever use AI in your music or your album covers or merch please and thank you!” His reply: “anyone ever brings that sh*t around me they’re fired.”
What Machine Gun Kelly posted about AI on X
The fan’s request went up in late October. Kelly answered it on November 5 at 6:35 PM Eastern time, as a quote post, so the request sits right under his reply for everyone who sees it.
Reality Tea picked it up on November 6. It points out that this isn’t the first time he’s spoken out against AI in music.
The fan’s request covered more than songs.
What Machine Gun Kelly’s AI post covers, and what it doesn’t
The fan named 3 things: the music, the album covers and the merch. That matters, because a cover or a T-shirt design is something fans can zoom in on, and they do.
Kelly’s reply works as a rule for his team. Anyone who brings AI to the table is out.
What it doesn’t do is answer the past. Reality Tea notes the post doesn’t establish whether he has ever used the technology, and that’s worth keeping in mind before anyone treats it as a promise about every release so far.
Other artists who ruled out AI before Machine Gun Kelly in 2026
Kelly joins a short list of big names who have said no out loud.
- Olivia Rodrigo told The Hollywood Reporter in October that she’d never use AI in any of her music. A week later, fans were sure her new video was AI, until her team posted the hand-drawn drafts.
- Kanye West’s team said BULLY had zero AI content in January. In March, it came out that he’d used Audimee to clone his own voice for the album.
The same week, Dr. Dre took the other side and told Ice Cube that only uncreative people will be mad about AI.
Frequently asked questions
When did Machine Gun Kelly post that anyone who brings AI around him is fired?
He posted it on X on November 5, 2026, at 6:35 PM Eastern time, as a quote of a fan's post from late October. Reality Tea reported it the next day.
Did Machine Gun Kelly say he has never used AI in his music?
No. His post only says what happens to anyone who brings AI around him from now on. It doesn't say whether AI was ever used on his past songs, covers or merch, and Reality Tea, which first reported the post, makes the same point.
Which artists besides Machine Gun Kelly have ruled out AI in their music in 2026?
Olivia Rodrigo told The Hollywood Reporter in October 2026 that she would never use AI in any of her music. In January 2026, Kanye West's team said his album BULLY had zero AI content, though it later emerged he had used the voice tool Audimee on it.
About the author
Covering AI music tools, industry shifts, and news for music creators and professionals. Twice-weekly newsletter at aimusicpreneur.com.
