AI-Generated Song Honours Cop Killer Sparks Online Controversy
An AI-generated song paying tribute to Dezi Freeman, a fugitive who killed two police officers, has recently appeared on major music streaming platforms, causing significant backlash online. The track, titled The Ghost of Mount Buffalo, was released on Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud, drawing attention for its controversial subject matter.
The song features a strumming guitar and an artificially generated voice, celebrating the fugitive who was responsible for the deaths of two police officers in Victoria’s High Country in August 2025. The lyrics reflect a dark admiration for Freeman, with lines such as:
“Two good cops fell and the papers all lied. Called him a monster while the innocents died.”
“They wanted a corpse for the 6 o’clock news. Instead they got smoke and a legend that grew. So run, Dezi, run, let the black cockatoos cry. Let them search every cave till the day that they die.”
The song was first uploaded to social media in December, months before Freeman was discovered and fatally shot by police. It was created by Keith Wilkins, a 76-year-old man from Queensland who goes by the name “Staying Alive.” According to his profile on Triple J Unearthed, Wilkins is a “veteran of life and survival” who has produced over 280 satirical and political songs for streaming platforms.
Wilkins stated that music often reflects real events, sometimes uncomfortable ones. However, the release of this particular song has sparked intense debate among listeners.
The track has received thousands of views online, with some fans praising the tribute to Freeman. One person wrote, “What a legend,” while another said, “I love the song, been a Dezi Freeman supporter from day one.”
However, many others have criticized the song for glorifying the actions of a murderer. One user commented, “Dezi was no hero, just a murderer who blamed his problems on other people.” Another said, “You should be ashamed of yourselfs (sic) glorifying a criminal.”
Freeman was finally apprehended on the Victorian-NSW border on March 30 after more than seven months on the run. Officers from the Special Operations Group surrounded a shipping container on a property in Thologolong, leading to a tense three-hour standoff with tactical officers. When Freeman refused to surrender, officers used a BearCat to deploy flashbangs into the structure.
The fugitive emerged from the container wearing only a blanket and armed with a handgun, believed to have been taken from one of the officers he killed in August. He was then shot more than 20 times and left in critical condition, described as looking like “Swiss cheese” by a police source.
Freeman has previously been associated with anti-establishment movements. Shortly after killing the two officers and fleeing into the bush, his face appeared on a placard at a March for Australia rally in Adelaide. The poster featured Freeman’s image with the words “Free man” underneath. The individual who created the poster was later arrested and charged with displaying offensive material in a public place.
Despite the controversy, the musical tribute to Freeman remains available on streaming platforms. No official response has been received from Wilkins, Spotify, SoundCloud, or Apple Music regarding the song’s continued presence.
