Art? Made my humans? Goundbreaking!

As The Devil Wears Prada 2 struts into theaters this weekend, the long-anticipated sequel is earning unexpected praise for what appears to be an AI-generated meme of Meryl Streep‘s Miranda Priestley in the movie, which was actually created by a real human artist.

During the movie’s release on Friday, artist Alexis Franklin shared the work she created for the film, an AI-style image of Miranda as a fast-food worker. “Would you like some lies with that?” the meme reads.

“I got to paint this at the request of [director] David Frankel for The Devil Wears Prada 2 (it shows up in the movie),” wrote Franklin on Instagram, treating fans to a time-lapsed video of her process. “Absolutely no disrespect to Queen Meryl, but this is something I would’ve painted in my free time, so when they asked me to do this it was nothing but fun.”

With the potential of generative AI seemingly looming over the entertainment industry, the mere act of hiring a human to create a piece of art that easily could have been manufactured with a well-worded prompt, has become something to celebrate on social media. “The bar is truly in hell,” as one fan so eloquently put it.

In the comments section, one follower rejoiced, “So refreshing it not being AI.”

Over on X, one person reacted, “OMG this one was actually made by an artist??? And it was made to look AI?”

“They really said and FUUUCKKKK AI!!!! Everybody CHEERED,” another posted.

“Currently obsessed with the fake AI artwork they used to criticize AI on The Devil Wears Prada like… THEY COMMISSIONED AN ARTIST TO ILLUSTRATE AN AI LOOKING PHOTO…. This fucking movie is 10s and 10s EVERYWHERE,” a satisfied moviegoer wrote.

Currently obsessed with the fake ai artwork they used to criticize Ai on The Devil wears Prada like… THEY COMMISSIONED AN ARTIST TO ILLUSTRATE AN AI LOOKING PHOTO…. This fucking movie is 10s and 10s EVERYWHERE. pic.twitter.com/bxnm1lC6pK

— Pop ate my heart (@POPATEEMYHEART2) May 2, 2026

“companies should get flowers when they hire an artist”
the bar is truly in hell

— ★ RSTLNE ★ (Yo No Soy Como Tu) (@fleshycurse) May 2, 2026

On Saturday, Franklin said she was “flooded with comments of relief that this gag in The Devil Wears Prada 2 was created by an actual human (me),” adding that she believes “these companies should get their flowers when they hire an artist.”

“The bar is truly in hell,” one fan responded on X.

Now in theaters, The Devil Wears Prada 2 sees the fashionable return of Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestley, Anne Hathaway’s Andi Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton and Stanley Tucci as Nigel Kipling, with the familiar characters struggling in a state of declining print media.

Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman also reprise their roles from the original 2006 Aline Brosh McKenna-penned film, with Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, Pauline Chalamet, Rachel Bloom, Patrick Brammall, Conrad Ricamora and Lady Gaga also joining the cast.