Celebrity break-ups have impacted fans for years, leaving them questioning what the couple’s future would have looked like if they stayed together.
Now a graphic designer has brought the ‘what-ifs’ to life using AI, revealing the families of famous ex-couples like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, and Twilight stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
Jeremy Pomeroy also recreated the romance of Taylor Swift and Harry Styles, who separated in 2013, generating a little girl and boy who look like the Eras Tour star.
The Australian designer used photoshop and advanced AI algorithms to ‘help generate unique and imaginative images based on existing data and my guidance.’
Taylor Swift and Harry Styles (pictured) dated briefly from late 2012 to early 2013 and reportedly broke up due to long-distance. The reimagined portrait of the former couple, who fans dubbed ‘Haylor,’ show them in 1960s-style clothing with their AI-generated children
The AI-generated images show some celebrities and their would-be children clad in Victorian-era attire to ‘evoke a sense of nostalgia or historical context,’ Pomeroy told DailyMail.com.
He focused on celebrities that significantly impacted pop culture through their real-life relationships or those portrayed in memorable films like Ryan Gosling and Emily (Emma) Stone’s love affair in ‘La La Land.’
In one image, a portrait shows Taylor Swift and former boyfriend Harry Styles with two kids wearing what appears to be clothing from the 1960s.
The children, a little girl with brown hair and her younger brother who resembles Swift stare into the distance, showing off a combination of the former couple’s features.
Other images centered on Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams who met during filming of ‘The Notebook’ in 2003 and started dating in 2005.
They broke up after just two years together, with Gosling blaming Hollywood for the split.
‘When both people are in show business, it’s too much show business. It takes all of the light, so nothing else can grow,’ Gosling said at the time, Distractify reported.
Pomeroy’s images of the former couple also show them in Victorian clothes with their three children – two young girls and their older brother – sitting around a small breakfast table.
Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams (pictured) met during filming of ‘The Notebook’ in 2003 and started dating in 2005. Their relationship lasted for two years, with Gosling attributing their breakup to the demands of Hollywood
Mila Kunis and ‘Home Alone’ child star Macaulay Culkin (pictured with their AI-generated kids) dated for eight years after they met in 2003. Kunis was starring on Family Guy when the pair met but they split amicably in 2011. Kunis previously admitted that it was difficult to walk down the street with Culkin because of the attention he received from fans, which led to their breakup
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt (pictured) started dating in 1998 and a year later they were engaged. Their marriage lasted for five years, with the couple splitting in October 2005. Critics responded to the AI-generated picture of the pair, calling it ‘insensitive’ because Pitt went on to have four kids with his now ex-wife Angelina Jolie while Aniston reportedly can’t have kids
Pomeroy said he was driven to create these types of images to explore not just pop culture but also societal issues and visual art.
‘By imagining what the families of celebrity couples would look like if they had stayed together, I sought to engage viewers in thought-provoking narratives and spark conversations about relationships, identity, and the dynamics of fame,’ he said.
The graphic designer created the first ‘what if’ image in May 2023, centered on Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s high-profile relationship and subsequent breakup because of how much it captivated the public’s attention at the time.
‘The idea of imagining what their family could have looked like if they had stayed together and had children intrigued me and offered a poignant starting point for this artistic series,’ he said.
Some people called this portrait ‘insensitive and disrespectful’ because Pitt went on to have six kids – two were adopted – with his now ex-wife Angelina Jolie while Aniston reportedly can’t have children.
However, Pomeroy said the reactions he received after publishing the image were ‘incredible’ and pushed him to create more portraits of would-be couples and depict them more creatively, but respect people’s alternative perspectives and opinions of the work.
‘Negative feedback can be part of the artistic journey,’ he said, ‘and it challenges me to grow and learn. It’s important to remain open to constructive criticism and use it to refine my craft further.’
Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez (pictured with their AI-generated kids) started dating in 2010 after his manager contacted her, saying Bieber wanted to meet. The broke up two years later due to their conflicting schedules
President John F. Kennedy had an alleged love affair with Marilyn Monroe one weekend in March 1962, only two months before Monroe’s now-infamous rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ at Kennedy’s 45th birthday celebration. In the AI-generated portrait, Jeremy Pomeroy revealed what Kennedy and Monroe’s kids would have looked like
Pomeroy said the imagined portrait of former President John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe was the most requested artwork he received.
Kennedy had an alleged love affair with Monroe one weekend in March 1962, only two months before Monroe’s now-infamous rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ at Kennedy’s 45th birthday celebration.
The most-requested picture shows a smiling Kennedy in a black suit next to Monroe, clad in a classic white dress and pearl necklace with a young boy and girl, also donning crisp, white outfits.
Pomeroy said this image struck an emotional chord with viewers because of its ‘tender and intimate depiction [which] invited viewers to contemplate the potential impact of these legendary figures coming together in a different timeline.’
This photo also resulted in engaging discussions from viewers who reportedly requested more historical portraits – although Pomeroy said hasn’t released any yet.
Other images included a family portrait of Twilight stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson with their three kids and Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber with their three girls.
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson (pictured with their AI-generated kids) met on the set of Twilight and started dating in 2009 but split in 2013 after Stewart had an alleged affair with the director of ‘Snow White.’
Pomeroy created images of couples who had on-screen chemistry like Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio (pictured with their ‘what if’ kids) who starred in the critically-acclaimed 1997 film, ‘Titanic.’ The pair never dated in real life but remained close friends
He also created photos of couples who had a deep-rooted on-screen romance like Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio who starred in the critically-acclaimed 1997 film, ‘Titanic.’
The pair never dated in real life but have remained close friends, even reuniting to film the 2008 movie, ‘Revolutionary Road.’
Pomeroy said he is cognizant of the moral and legal boundaries that accompany these kinds of AI-generated portraits, particularly the personal rights of the featured celebrities as well as fake news and copyright issues.
‘Copyright concerns surrounding these images are still a legal gray area, and I prioritize ensuring my artworks are filled with intention and original ideas, clearly demonstrating human involvement in the final result,’ he said.
For Pomeroy, the allure of AI was the ‘endless creative possibilities it offers,’ allowing him to build almost any artwork without being limited by budgets or being backed by an organization.
‘AI empowers me to explore uncharted territories in art, experiment with new techniques, and push the boundaries of my imagination,’ Pomeroy said.
‘It’s an exhilarating journey of discovery and innovation that continually fuels my passion for creating impactful and thought-provoking artwork.’