US Hockey Star Denounces White House-Shared AI Video as 'Clearly Fake'
American Olympic hockey star Brady Tkachuk has publicly attacked a TikTok video shared by the White House, labeling it "clearly fake" after it used artificial intelligence to fabricate audio of him mocking Canadians. The video, which circulated widely, includes manipulated content that Tkachuk insists does not represent his voice or words.
Tkachuk's Firm Denial and Clarification
Brady Tkachuk, the 26-year-old captain of the NHL's Ottawa Senators from Arizona, appeared in footage celebrating the US men's hockey team's gold medal victory at the Winter Games in Italy. However, the video contained AI-generated audio that falsely depicted him referring to Canadians, who lost in the final, with derogatory remarks, including a muted expletive. A note in the video acknowledged it "contains AI-generated media," but Tkachuk emphasized during a news conference on Thursday that the content was inauthentic.
"It's clearly fake because it's not my voice and not my lips moving," Tkachuk stated, adding, "I'm not in control of any of those accounts... I know that those words would never come out of my mouth." When asked about the video, which was posted on the White House TikTok account, he further clarified, "I would never say that. That's not who I am. So yeah, I guess I don't like that video."
Additional Controversy and Team Celebrations
Tkachuk also addressed another incident from Team USA's celebratory phone call with former President Donald Trump after their 2-1 win over Canada. He denied being the voice heard shouting "close the northern border" during the call, explaining, "I've been seeing stuff that people think it's me, but if you watch the video, that's not my voice and something that I never say." Sky News's US partner, NBC, has reached out to the White House for comment on these matters.
In the aftermath of the Olympic victory, Tkachuk was among twenty players who visited the White House on Tuesday and attended the president's State of the Union speech in Washington DC. The US gold medal-winning team, including his brother Matthew Tkachuk, participated in the event, highlighting the national recognition of their achievement.
Broader Context and Reactions
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of Team USA's historic sweep in Olympic hockey, with the women's team also defeating Canada 2-1, marking the first time Americans have won both tournaments. During the post-game speakerphone call, Mr. Trump extended an invitation to the White House for the men's team, humorously noting, "We're going to have to bring the women's team, you do know that," and joking about potential impeachment if he didn't. Some players laughed at the remarks, with at least one later expressing regret.
Tkachuk reflected on how the moment might have been perceived by the women's players, saying, "I mean, I get it. We supported them, they supported us. You can't control what other people say." Meanwhile, rapper Flavor Flav has scheduled a July celebration in Las Vegas for the women's team, offering an alternative recognition for their accomplishments.
This incident underscores growing concerns about AI-generated media and its potential to spread misinformation, particularly when shared by influential platforms like the White House. Tkachuk's response highlights the personal impact of such fabrications on public figures and the importance of verifying content in the digital age.
