Michael Healy-Rae, an Independent TD for Co Kerry, has shared a deepfake video of Taylor Swift endorsing him for the upcoming Dail elections.
Healy-Rae acknowledged that the video of Swift is indeed fake, but it didn't stop him from sharing it on X, along with a number of plays on Swift's song titles, on Monday, October 28.
Some going to wake up to the news of an endorsement from Tay Tay herself. I mean haters will say it's fake (and they'd be right) but I'll just shake it off! Like, I'm not looking for a love story and don't want any bad blood.. I just want your number 1 vote when the time comes! pic.twitter.com/FgxUlpTjUo
— Michael Healy-Rae (@MHealyRae) October 28, 2024
"Hey, it's Taylor Swift," the video says with a voice that sounds nearly identical to the Grammy-winning singer.
"You all know who I want to vote for in the American election, but if I was voting in Ireland it would be only one man, that's Michael Healy-Rae.
"You know what, the Tay Tay loves the Healy-Rae. That's right, Best of luck, Michael."
Some of the people in Healy-Rae's replies suggested he take the post down.
At the time of publication on Monday night, Healy-Rae's post drew just over 100 likes and more than 32k views.
Swiftmania gripped Ireland earlier this summer when the popstar brought her record-breaking Eras Tour to Dublin for three sold-out shows. It is not believed that she ventured down to Healy-Rae's constituency in Co Kerry during her few days in Ireland.
Independent TD for Kerry Michael Healy-Rae.
Healy-Rae isn't the first politician to use a fake Swift endorsement. Across the pond, the popstar's likeness was also used by US Presidential nominee Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform in August.
Sharing AI-generated images of young women wearing "Swifties for Trump" shirts, as well as a cartoon-like graphic of Swift dressed like Uncle Sam, Trump wrote: "I accept!"
Unlike Healy-Rae, Trump did not say the pictures were fake, though they were. The Guardian reports that the Swift deepfakes shared by Trump can be traced back to the John Milton Freedom Foundation.
Swift responded by endorsing the Harris-Walz ticket. In her endorsement, Swift said the fake images of her 'endorsing' Trump "really conjured up my fears around AI, and the dangers of spreading misinformation."
Afterward, Trump about-faced, now famously posting "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!" on Truth Social.
The incident has spurred conversations about the uses of deepfakes in the scope of elections and whether or not they should be regulated.
Back in Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, Ireland's media regulator, issued updated guidance in June ahead of local elections regarding deepfakes: "Given the increasing presence of audio and video content (including ‘deepfakes’) being
generated by artificial intelligence, broadcasters should take steps to manage these risks and minimise the potential for such content to make it on-air and mislead audiences."
Healy-Rae shared the Swift deepfake roughly a week after he shared another video on X that raised some eyebrows.
In a post on October 21, the same day Taoiseach Simon Harris confirmed that there will be an election before the end of the year, Healy-Rae posted an animated clip of him sparring with the Taoiseach.
"Simon Harris trying to dodge democracy like I don't know what!" Healy-Rae wrote.
Simon Harris trying to dodge democracy like I don't know what!
— Michael Healy-Rae (@MHealyRae) October 21, 2024
Calling a snap election when it suits him and Fine Gael isn’t exactly ‘fair play’ to the people of Ireland! Whether it's called for next month or next year, I'll be ready. #HealyRaeAllTheWay #MHRTV pic.twitter.com/BYYX5Wa7XL
While Harris has confirmed that an election is coming, he has not confirmed the exact date. Government sources have indicated, however, that Harris will call the General Election on Friday, November 8 for a polling day on November 29.
Comments