US Hockey Star Disputes AI-Altered Video

Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk has publicly distanced himself from an AI-generated TikTok video posted by the White House that appeared to present him making critical comments about Canada following Team USA’s Olympic men’s hockey gold medal win. The video, which has garnered over 11 million views, utilizes AI to fabricate a statement from Tkachuk.

The Fabricated Statement

The video features Tkachuk seemingly saying, They booed our national anthem, so I had to come out and teach those maple-syrup-eating f***s a lesson. A disclaimer at the bottom of the video clearly states: Contains AI-generated media.

Tkachuk, who plays professionally for the Ottawa Senators in Canada, was quick to dismiss the video’s authenticity. It’s clearly fake, because it’s not my voice and not my lips moving, he stated. I’m not in control of any of those accounts and, uh, yeah so, I know that those words would never come out of my mouth, so can’t do anything about it. He further emphasized, I would never say that. That’s not who I am, so yeah, I guess I don’t like that video.

White House and Trump’s Comments

The incident comes after President Donald Trump invited the U.S. Men’s hockey team to the White House and Tuesday’s State of the Union address. During a call with the team, Trump joked about having to invite the women’s team as well to avoid impeachment. U.S. Captain Hilary Knight subsequently called the remarks distasteful and unfortunate.

When asked about Trump’s comments, Tkachuk responded, Honestly, it was just a whirlwind of a moment that (you) can’t really control what somebody says, and it’s just caught (me) off guard a little bit. He likewise noted he wasn’t concerned about the Olympic win impacting his future with the Senators, stating, That’s not even something that has crossed my mind. I love playing for this team.

Further AI Controversy

This is not the first instance of the White House facing criticism for AI-generated content. Weeks prior, a racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama as apes was posted, which Trump initially blamed on a staffer. The video was later deleted following widespread condemnation.

FAQ

What was Brady Tkachuk’s reaction to the White House TikTok video?

Tkachuk stated the video was clearly fake and that the words attributed to him would never come out of my mouth.

What did President Trump say about the US women’s hockey team?

Trump joked that he would have to invite the women’s team to the White House to avoid impeachment.

Is this the first time the White House has used AI-generated content?

No, the White House previously posted an AI-generated video depicting former President Obama and his wife as apes.

Stay tuned to 247sports.news for further updates on this developing story.