Jenna Ortega's 'Religious Experience' in Film and the Horrors of Artificial Intelligence

Jenna Ortega, star of "Beetlejuice 2," shares her belief in the transformative power of movies and reveals the harrowing experiences she has faced due to artificial intelligence.

Jenna Ortega, the rising star of the horror genre, has always been drawn to the transformative power of cinema. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, she shared her belief that movies can be a "religious experience," echoing the sentiments of her "Beetlejuice" co-star Winona Ryder.

Jenna Ortega's 'Religious Experience' in Film and the Horrors of Artificial Intelligence

"I agree with Winona," Ortega said. "I think movies can be a way for people to connect with something bigger than themselves. They can make you feel something that you didn't know you were capable of feeling."

Ortega's passion for film stems from her childhood, where she found solace in the imaginative worlds created on the screen. "I always felt like I could escape into movies," she said. "They were a way for me to forget about the world around me and just be myself."

Jenna Ortega's 'Religious Experience' in Film and the Horrors of Artificial Intelligence

Despite her love for film, Ortega has experienced a darker side of the industry, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). She revealed that she has been subjected to explicit, AI-generated content since she first joined social media at the age of 12.

"The first direct message I ever opened was an unsolicited photo of a man's genitals," Ortega recalled. "And that was just the beginning of what was to come."

Jenna Ortega's 'Religious Experience' in Film and the Horrors of Artificial Intelligence

The actress described receiving AI-generated child pornography of herself and being bombarded with disturbing images and photos after the release of her hit Netflix series, "Wednesday."

"It's terrifying," she said. "It's corrupt. It's wrong. It's disgusting."

Jenna Ortega's 'Religious Experience' in Film and the Horrors of Artificial Intelligence

In response to the onslaught of explicit content, Ortega has taken steps to protect herself online. She deleted her Twitter account and now uses Instagram with caution.

"I decided the best way to combat the content issue was to delete my Twitter account," she said. "I couldn't say anything without seeing something like that. And I don't need to be seeing that every day."

Jenna Ortega's 'Religious Experience' in Film and the Horrors of Artificial Intelligence

Ortega is now learning how to navigate the complexities of the digital age while safeguarding her privacy and well-being.

Despite the challenges she has faced, Ortega remains optimistic about the future of entertainment. She believes that the film industry can play a positive role in addressing social issues and raising awareness about important topics.

"I think it's important for movies to reflect the world around us," she said. "And I think that AI is a very real threat to our society. We need to be having conversations about it and finding ways to protect ourselves from it."

Ortega also emphasized the importance of community in navigating the challenges of the entertainment industry. She has found support from her fellow actors, fans, and industry professionals.

"I'm so grateful for the people in my life who have supported me," she said. "I wouldn't be where I am today without them."