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Olympic Hockey Star Refutes Viral AI-Generated Video of Anti-Canadian Slur
USA men’s hockey player Brady Tkachuk has firmly denied making derogatory comments about Canadians following Team USA’s gold medal victory at the 2026 Olympics, confirming that a widely shared video clip containing offensive remarks was created using artificial intelligence.
The controversy began when a video circulated across social media platforms showing what appeared to be Tkachuk saying, “They booed our anthem so I had to teach those maple syrup eating f***s a lesson,” with the song “Free Bird” playing in the background.
The White House TikTok account reposted the clip but labeled it as AI-generated content. However, when the video was shared by other social media accounts, including the Instagram account @kylesinclair210, this crucial disclaimer was often omitted.
Tkachuk, who plays professionally for the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League, addressed the fabricated clip directly in a statement on February 26.
“Well, it’s clearly fake, because it’s not my voice, not my lips moving,” Tkachuk told ESPN. “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.”
When asked about his reaction to the video itself, Tkachuk emphasized, “It’s not my voice. It’s not what I was saying. 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.”
An investigation into the clip revealed that it was originally created and posted on the YouTube channel @RealQuotesAI in February 2025. The fabricated audio was superimposed over footage from a press conference at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament from February 2025 – not from the 2026 Olympics. The NHL’s original press conference video confirms Tkachuk made no such remarks.
The on-ice celebration footage shown in the manipulated video also comes from the 4 Nations Face-Off event, not from the Olympic gold medal game as suggested.
This incident highlights the growing challenge of AI-generated content in sports media and the potential for fabricated statements to damage athletes’ reputations. While the White House account properly labeled the content as AI-generated, many subsequent shares across platforms failed to include this critical context.
The situation is particularly sensitive given that Tkachuk plays professionally in Ottawa, Canada, making such inflammatory comments about Canadians potentially damaging to his relationship with fans and teammates.
The incident underscores the evolving landscape of digital media consumption, where the lines between authentic and AI-generated content continue to blur. Media literacy experts point to this case as an example of how quickly misinformation can spread when proper disclaimers about artificial content are removed during sharing.
Sports analysts note that the USA-Canada hockey rivalry remains one of the most intense in international sports, but that fabricated controversies risk overshadowing the genuine competitive spirit between the neighboring nations. The 2026 Olympic victory marked an important achievement for USA Hockey, which deserves to be celebrated without the distraction of manufactured controversy.
As AI technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, media platforms, sports organizations, and public figures face mounting pressure to develop more effective methods for identifying and labeling artificially created content to prevent similar confusion in the future.
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10 Comments
Interesting, it’s good the White House was able to quickly confirm this video as AI-generated and not real. It’s important to be vigilant about deepfakes and disinformation, especially around major events like the Olympics.
Agreed, verifying the authenticity of online content is crucial these days. Kudos to Brady Tkachuk for swiftly addressing and debunking this fabricated clip.
This is a concerning example of how AI can be used to create convincing yet completely fabricated content. Glad the White House took steps to label it as such and that Tkachuk himself refuted the offensive remarks.
Yes, the proliferation of deepfakes is a real challenge that requires ongoing vigilance. It’s good to see athletes and officials working to correct the record when such manipulated media emerges.
This is a timely reminder of the growing threat of AI-generated disinformation. I’m glad the White House and Tkachuk himself were able to address and debunk this fabricated clip. Maintaining integrity in media and discourse is vital.
Kudos to the White House for swiftly identifying and labeling this deepfake video. It’s a concerning example of how AI can be used to create realistic yet completely fabricated content. Staying vigilant against such manipulations is crucial.
This is a concerning example of how AI can be misused to create convincing yet completely fabricated content. Kudos to the White House and Tkachuk for quickly identifying and refuting this deepfake video. Maintaining media integrity is crucial.
I’m glad the truth came out about this AI-generated video. It’s a good reminder that we need to be extremely cautious about taking online content at face value, especially around sensitive topics like national pride and politics.
Absolutely. Fact-checking and source verification are essential skills in today’s media landscape. It’s encouraging to see public figures like Tkachuk taking a stand against disinformation.
Deepfakes are a major challenge that require ongoing vigilance. It’s good to see public figures like Tkachuk taking a firm stance against manipulated content and working to set the record straight. Fact-checking is crucial these days.