Brady Tkachuk criticizes White House AI-generated video of him mocking Canadians following US victory.

Brady Tkachuk, a prominent ice hockey player from the United States, recently expressed his disapproval regarding an AI-generated video released by the White House, which featured him making derogatory remarks about Canadians. Tkachuk, who participated in the recent Winter Olympics and helped secure a gold medal for the US men’s ice hockey team—their first since 1980—was caught off guard by the video’s content.

The video, which was shared on TikTok by the White House, depicted Tkachuk supposedly stating, “They booed our national anthem, so I had to come out and teach those maple syrup eating fuckers a lesson.” However, the ice hockey star clarified that he never uttered those words. The clip has gone viral, garnering over 10 million views, and is marked as AI-generated, raising questions about authenticity in public discourse.

In a statement made on Thursday, Tkachuk expressed, “Well, it’s clearly fake, because it’s not my voice, not my lips moving. I’m not in control of any of those accounts. I know that those words would never come out of my mouth. So, I can’t do anything about it.” Given his role as the captain of the Ottawa Senators in Canada, it’s understandable that he would wish to distance himself from the unfounded remarks attributed to him.

“I would never say that. That’s not who I am, so I guess I don’t like that video because that would never come out of my mouth and never had that thought,” he elaborated. The controversy surrounding the video comes against the backdrop of a phone call Tkachuk and his teammates had with former President Donald Trump following their victory, during which some speculated they heard Tkachuk say, “Close the northern border.” Tkachuk denied these claims, stating, “I’ve been seeing stuff that people think it’s me. But if you watch the video, it’s not my voice.”

He further remarked on the viral nature of misinformation available on social media, noting, “I don’t know how that took a storm on its own when I give everything I have here. It’s crazy when things go on social media, how fast they go. I would never say anything like that.” In addition, Tkachuk reflected on the fallout from Trump’s phone call. The president was criticized for making what many deemed a distasteful joke regarding the US women’s team during the same conversation.

Trump humorously suggested, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that,” as he laughed, adding that he would be “impeached” if he didn’t. This remark elicited mixed reactions from the players, and although some laughed, Trump’s comments struck a chord with others, particularly the members of the women’s hockey team, who also achieved gold medals at the Olympics.

On Wednesday, captain of the US women’s hockey team, Hilary Knight, described Trump’s joke as “distasteful.” Tkachuk acknowledged the sentiments expressed by Knight and her teammates, indicating he understood why they might feel insulted by Trump’s comments. He remarked, “I mean, I get it. We support them, they support us. You can’t control what other people say.”

Reflecting on his experiences with the women’s team, Tkachuk noted, “It was fun being around them, seeing how they play and the excellence around them.” He added that any reactions to Trump’s comments should be discussed among teammates, emphasizing collaboration and mutual respect among players, irrespective of their respective teams.

Tkachuk addressed how the laughter from his teammates may have been a reflexive response to the surprise of speaking with the President right after achieving their Olympic dream, stating, “You’re talking to the President 10 minutes after you achieve your dream.”

Alongside his teammates, Tkachuk visited Trump at the White House after their Olympic victory and participated in the State of the Union address. In contrast, the US women’s team chose not to attend, citing travel issues and scheduling conflicts. “It was special,” Tkachuk reflected on the visit, emphasizing the significance of being in the Oval Office as an American citizen.

As of now, the women’s team has yet to confirm if they will make a trip to the White House. Although Trump mentioned plans during his Tuesday speech, nothing official has been communicated. However, it has been reported that they have accepted an invitation to a Las Vegas celebration from rapper and sports advocate Flavor Flav, highlighting the dynamic landscape of engagements and events within the sports community.

Flavor Flav posted his invitation soon after the women’s decision to decline the State of the Union visit, and while they accepted his offer, it remains unclear if every player will participate. As the discussions and controversy surrounding these events unfold, it reflects on the intersections between sports, politics, and social media in contemporary society.