Glambot creator Joseph Kahn explains how to recreate effect with iPhone amid Cole Walliser scandal

Kahn spoke out after the recent controversy surrounding the current awards-show camera director Walliser

Joseph Kahn has spoken publicly about recent controversy surrounding the Glambot camera system, responding after his name resurfaced amid online criticism directed at current awards-show camera director Cole Walliser.

Walliser faced backlash following a viral interaction with Jennifer Lopez that some viewers described as dismissive. The situation escalated after Yinka Animashaun shared emails from 2019 in which Walliser’s replies were perceived by some as rude and unprofessional.

Kahn, a filmmaker known for directing music videos for artists including Britney Spears and Taylor Swift, said he felt compelled to clarify his role in the Glambot’s creation. “I keep hearing my name and Glambot. Yes I created it back in 2016 for E! The lighting, camera work, lens choices, and methodology are all my design,” he wrote. He added that he once operated the camera while also winning a Grammy on the same night, describing the experience as demanding.

He explained that the original intent of the Glambot was never limited to stylised posing. “I never really intended it to just be a series of poses though. Even if it's a couple seconds long, tell a story. Let's get to know them,” he said, adding that he no longer shoots Glambot footage and is currently working on Super Bowl commercials.

Responding to online questions with humour, Kahn also defended the professional realities of creative ownership. “It's actually very common in my career to do something and then a client takes elements, equipment, workflow, crew, methodology and replicate it without me,” he wrote. “That's the nature of executing for brands.”

Kahn later offered a satirical explanation of how the Glambot effect could be recreated independently. “Put your iPhone on a selfie stick. Record in slow motion. Swing it at someone really fast. Stabilize it with editing software,” he wrote, before warning about safety concerns. He noted that the original Glambot design included strict spacing and operational protocols, stressing that the robotic arm “can kill a celebrity” if mishandled.