Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is pushing back against criticism over an AI-generated video she shared that placed her in Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime performance, saying it was never meant to offend anyone.
In an interview with Fox 13 Memphis' Rob Sneed posted Friday, Blackburn explained that the video originated from a county commissioner and was shared by her campaign team because she found it amusing. "It was a video that a county commissioner had created, and I thought it was just something that was fun," she said.
The clip, which has amassed over 2.2 million views on X, shows Blackburn dancing to Lamar's hit "Not Like Us," with fellow Tennessee Republicans Rep. Tim Burchett and Sen. Bill Haggerty appearing as background dancers. The video drew swift online backlash, including from former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who mocked it as "Boomer thinks AI makes her look cool," while others labeled it "cringe."
The controversy is particularly sharp given Blackburn's history as a vocal advocate for regulating AI deepfakes. She has previously introduced legislation aimed at protecting individuals' likenesses from unauthorized AI use, a stance that critics say clashes with her decision to share a manipulated video of herself.
When pressed by Sneed on whether the video could be seen as offensive to Black Americans, especially given the song's themes about cultural appropriation, Blackburn responded, "There would never be any action that was intended to offend."
Her opponent in the Tennessee gubernatorial race, Democrat Jerri Green, seized on the moment, posting on X: "When I say please stop using AI to support our campaign, this is what I mean…" The exchange highlights growing scrutiny over AI's role in political messaging, a topic that has sparked backlash in key races across the country.
Blackburn's campaign has not indicated whether it will remove the video, but the incident underscores the risks politicians face when using AI tools without careful consideration. As Republicans face voter backlash over AI deregulation, this episode may serve as a cautionary tale.
Despite the controversy, Blackburn remains heavily favored in the gubernatorial race. Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, gives her a 94 percent chance of victory, with Tennessee not having elected a Democratic governor since 2006.
