Jamie Ager Strongly Reacts to Opponent's AI-Powered Ad: "Completely Fake"

Democratic candidate Jamie Ager responded strongly, stating that the artificial intelligence (AI)-generated political advertisement approved by his Republican opponent Jennifer Balkcom and targeting him is "100% fake."

In the ad funded by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), Ager is depicted at a barn dance with drag queens from Asheville and a masked individual. The video concludes with statements regarding Ager's relationship with the LGBTQ+ community. In a video message he released, Ager argued that his opponent has run out of issues to campaign on and has therefore resorted to such lies, adding that he will continue to focus on Western North Carolina values.

Nova, an Asheville-based drag queen whose image was used in the ad, stated that she has never met Ager and did not attend such an event as shown in the video. Nova sent a cease-and-desist letter to Balkcom's campaign, while legal experts note that this situation could lead to legal consequences under the scope of "misappropriation of the right of publicity." A Jennifer Balkcom spokesperson has not yet commented on the matter.