Brady Tkachuk blasts White House after AI TikTok shows him insulting Canadians

'It’s clearly fake because it’s not my voice and not my lips moving,' Tkachuk said

US Olympic hockey star Brady Tkachuk publicly responded after the White House’s TikTok account posted a manipulated AI-generated video that appeared to show him insulting Canadians.

The controversial clip went live the day Team USA defeated Canada 2‑1 in overtime to win gold in men’s hockey at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the country’s first Olympic men’s hockey gold since 1980.

“It’s clearly fake because it’s not my voice and not my lips moving,” Tkachuk told the Associated Press. “I’m not in control of any of those accounts.” He added that the video does not reflect his words or behavior and said he was frustrated the clip went viral immediately following the team’s historic victory.

The TikTok post was flagged by the platform as AI-generated media, but it still sparked confusion online, with many viewers initially believing the footage was real. Tkachuk’s teammates and officials from USA Hockey have also acknowledged the issue, clarifying that the star forward never made the remarks attributed to him.

The incident has renewed broader concerns about AI-driven misinformation and the use of official government social media accounts to circulate synthetic media. Analysts note that while AI-generated content can be entertaining, it can also pose serious risks when posted in misleading or politically sensitive contexts.

Tkachuk, meanwhile, continues to celebrate Team USA’s gold medal achievement while distancing himself from the manipulated clip. “I’m just trying to enjoy this moment with my team,” he said, emphasizing the importance of focusing on their hard-earned Olympic victory rather than the viral controversy.

The White House has not issued a formal apology but removed the TikTok shortly after the backlash, underscoring the challenges of monitoring AI-generated content on high-profile government social channels.