A Republican primary candidate for a congressional seat in Michigan is coming under fire over a controversial TikTok video featuring an AI voice of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. endorsing him.
The video from the campaign of Anthony Hudson, who is white, has already been taken down. However, the left-leaning Midwest-based news service the Heartland Signal reposted it to X.
"I have another dream! Yes, it is me, Martin Luther King," said the AI-generated voice in the ad. "I came back from the dead to say something ... Anthony Hudson will be Michigan 8th District's next congressman."
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"Okay, now I am going back where I came from, goodbye," the AI Dr. King concluded.
Amid widespread outrage over the video, Hudson took to X to claim that it was all just a mistake and he had never approved the ad.
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"A volunteer gave my social media credentials to one of his friends who then posted an AI video without my knowledge. It appears that they not only used AI for MLKjr’s voice but also with my voice to make it appear more authentic," wrote Hudson. "The volunteer has been released and all my social media credentials have been updated. I would have NEVER approved such a STUPID and DISRESPECTFUL video! I sincerely apologize that all of you have seen this and I’m extremely furious about this situation. This could happen to any of us so please be cautious and aware of who has your person information."
Hudson, an ardent Trump supporter, has previously stirred controversy by proclaiming that only people who speak English should be allowed to vote, and ballots in other languages "waste taxpayer dollars."
Michigan's 8th Congressional District, which includes a number of east-central Michigan cities like Flint, Bay City, and Saginaw, is currently represented by Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee.
