Michigan congressional candidate retracts apology for AI audio of MLK Jr.

Last Friday, Michigan Republican congressional candidate Anthony Hudson issued an apology for a controversial video posted to his campaign’s TikTok account, which he then retracted later the same day.

The video in question featured AI-generated audio of Martin Luther King Jr. endorsing Hudson’s bid for Michigan’s 8^th Congressional District, which was posted to TikTok last week.

“Yes, it is me, Martin Luther King,” the audio says. “I came back from the dead to say something as I was saying I have another dream, that Anthony Hudson will be Michigan’s 8^th District’s next congressman.”

GOP congressional candidate Anthony Hudson (MI-08) posts a TikTok featuring an AI-generated MLK Jr. voice:

“I have another dream! Yes, it is me, Martin Luther King. I came back from the dead to say something … Anthony Hudson will be Michigan 8th District’s next congressman.” pic.twitter.com/8BarOfXfI2

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) June 14, 2024

Hudson later took down the video and made an X post claiming that a friend of one of his volunteers created and posted the video without his knowledge, despite Hudson’s stamp at the end saying, “I am Anthony Hudson and I approve this message.” Hudson also said that he “would have NEVER approved such a STUPID and DISRESPECTFUL video!”

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.

The volunteer has been released and all my…

— Anthony Hudson (@AHudson2k24) June 14, 2024

Later that day, Hudson made another post saying he decided to keep the “campaign staffer” and give him a raise, contradicting his earlier claim that the person who posted the video was a friend of a volunteer. Hudson also said that he believes MLK would endorse his campaign if he were alive today.

Attention:

I have been getting media requests from multiple media outlets, and I would like to address the Tik Tok incident that happened this morning. Here is my statement regarding the MLK AI Endorsement Video:

Upon further review of the MLK video in question, I decided to…

— Anthony Hudson (@AHudson2k24) June 14, 2024

Hudson is the owner of a trucking company who previously ran for president in 2020. In March, Hudson garnered more controversy when he posted a different TikTok in response to the city of San Francisco appointing Kelly Wong, who is a Chinese immigrant, to the city’s Elections Commission. Hudson falsely labeled Wong an “illegal immigrant” and took issue with Wong’s idea to translate voting ballots for non-English-speaking immigrants, saying that “this is America, and we speak English here.”

Hudson is one of three Republicans on the ballot for Michigan’s 8^th Congressional District primary, which will be held on Aug. 6.