GOP Attack Ad Uses AI-Generated Image of Asheville Drag Queen Nova Without Her Consent
Published · updated · curated by AI Is Going Just Great
Source: gayety.com ↗
"I've never met the man in my life." — Nova, on being AI-depicted dancing with congressional candidate Jamie Ager
A 30-second NRCC attack ad in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District race shows Democrat Jamie Ager dancing at a barn dance with drag queens, including a figure that appears to be Asheville performer Nova. Nova says she has never met Ager and has never been to a barn dance. "None of it was real," she told WLOS on October 23. She sent a cease-and-desist letter to Republican Jennifer Balkcom's campaign; as of October 27, the ad was still running on television and YouTube. The NRCC, which paid for the ad, said it "stands by" it. Balkcom's campaign did not address the AI claim.
Nova may have a misappropriation claim over her likeness being used without permission, but a First Amendment attorney told WLOS that courts are reluctant to order political ads pulled due to prior restraint concerns. North Carolina has no law requiring disclosure of AI-generated content in political ads, which leaves Nova's options limited to civil litigation. No lawsuit had been filed as of the latest update.