An AI-generated song in tribute to cop killer Dezi Freeman has appeared on major music streaming platforms, sparking backlash online.

The song, The Ghost of Mount Buffalo, was released on streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud in a tribute to the fugitive, who was shot dead by police last week after spending more than seven months on the run.

An AI-generated song in tribute to double cop killer Dezi Freeman has appeared on major streaming platforms. Picture: Supplied
Comprised of a strumming guitar and an artificially generated voice, the sick song paid tribute to the fugitive who murdered two police officers in Victoria’s High Country in August 2025.

“Two good cops fell and the papers all lied. Called him a monster while the innocents died,” the lyrics read.

“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.”

Freeman shot and killed two police officers in August last year before going on the run for seven months. Picture supplied
The song was first uploaded to social media in December, months before Freeman was discovered and fatally shot by police.

It was generated by Queensland man Keith Wilkins, who operates under the name “Staying Alive”.

According to his profile on Triple J Unearthed, Mr Wilkins is a 76-year-old “veteran of life and survival” from Queensland, and has generated more than 280 satirical and political songs for the streaming platforms.

An AI-generated song in tribute to cop killer Dezi Freeman has appeared on major music streaming platforms, sparking backlash online.

The song, The Ghost of Mount Buffalo, was released on streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud in a tribute to the fugitive, who was shot dead by police last week after spending more than seven months on the run.

An AI-generated song in tribute to double cop killer Dezi Freeman has appeared on major streaming platforms. Picture: Supplied
Comprised of a strumming guitar and an artificially generated voice, the sick song paid tribute to the fugitive who murdered two police officers in Victoria’s High Country in August 2025.

“Two good cops fell and the papers all lied. Called him a monster while the innocents died,” the lyrics read.

“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.”

Freeman shot and killed two police officers in August last year before going on the run for seven months. Picture supplied
The song was first uploaded to social media in December, months before Freeman was discovered and fatally shot by police.

It was generated by Queensland man Keith Wilkins, who operates under the name “Staying Alive”.

According to his profile on Triple J Unearthed, Mr Wilkins is a 76-year-old “veteran of life and survival” from Queensland, and has generated more than 280 satirical and political songs for the streaming platforms.

Sponsored content

SPONSORED

An Edward Lutyens-Designed, Tudor-Style Manor House in England’s West Sussex Hits the MarketMansion Global

SPONSORED

Baylor Genetics’ Rapid WGS Enables Earlier Diagnoses for Infants with Cardiac IndicationsGenome Web

According to the Herald Sun, Mr Wilkins said music “has always reflected real events, sometimes uncomfortable ones”.

Queensland man Keith Wilkins, who operates under the name ‘Staying Alive’, generated the song. Picture: Triple J
The song has garnered thousands of views online, with some praising the creator’s tribute to the double cop killer.

“What a legend,” one person wrote.

“I love the song, been a Dezi Freeman supporter from day one,” said another.

However, the song also received pushback from listeners, with many arguing the song was glorifying the killer’s actions.

“Dezi was no hero, just a murderer who blamed his problems on other people,” one person said.

“You should be ashamed of yourselfs (sic) glorifying a criminal,” said another.

Freeman was shot and killed on the Victorian-NSW border last week. Picture: NewsWire/ Mark Stewart
Freeman was finally caught on the Victorian-NSW border on March 30, after more than seven months on the run.

Officers from the Special Operations Group swarmed a shipping container on a property in Thologolong, sparking a tense three-hour stand-off with tactical officers.

When Freeman failed to surrender, officers in a BearCat used a “claw” to launch flashbangs into the structure.

The fugitive was forced outside in nothing but a blanket and wielding 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 looking like “Swiss cheese”, a police source told the Herald Sun.

An Adelaide man was charged with displaying offensive material last year. Picture: ABC
It is not the first time Freeman was featured as a symbol of the anti-establishment movement.

Days after Freeman murdered the two officers and fled into dense bushland, his face was featured on a placard at a March for Australia rally in Adelaide.

The poster featured the cop killer’s face and the words “Free man” written underneath.

The man who made the poster was arrested in September and charged with displaying offensive material in a public place.

The musical tribute to Freeman has yet to be removed from the streaming platforms.

Mr Wilkins, Spotify, SoundCloud and Apple Music have been contacted for comment.