Kid Rock responded quickly to a meme shared by California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) press office, depicting the musician in an AI-generated Uncle Sam outfit encouraging support for the governor.
The post, shared on X on Sunday, included the caption, “Kid Rock wants you to support Gavin Newsom.”
Newsom later amplified the post by retweeting it with the message, “Thanks, Kid Rock,” drawing immediate attention online.
In turn, Kid Rock reposted the image on his own X account, adding, “The only support Gavin Newscum will ever get out of me is from DEEZ NUTZ.”
The post quickly went viral, generating discussions about the ethical implications of using AI-generated content for political messaging and the responsibilities of both public officials and content creators.
Users on X immediately began questioning the legality of the post.
One user asked, “Isn’t this illegal?” while another noted, “I don’t think you can just go around falsely claiming people support you as this is defamation/libel.”
A third commented, “@KidRock should file suit against him for using his name and likeness without permission.”
The unauthorized use of a public figure’s likeness has been a contentious issue in both commercial advertising and political campaigns, as highlighted by Texas.gov.
In the landmark case Midler v. Ford Motor Co., Bette Midler successfully sued Ford for using a sound-alike singer in a commercial without her permission, arguing that it misappropriated her voice and likeness.
Similarly, in 1983, Johnny Carson won a lawsuit against a portable toilet company for using the phrase “Here’s Johnny” in its advertisements, which he claimed misappropriated his identity.
Critics have pointed out that Newsom’s actions appear hypocritical.
Last July, he publicly criticized Elon Musk for creating an AI-generated campaign ad depicting then-Vice President Kamala Harris, tweeting, “Manipulating a voice in an ‘ad’ like this one should be illegal. I’ll be signing a bill in a matter of weeks to make sure it is.”
Conservative commentator Shawn Farash noted on X, “Didn’t you support a bill in California to ban AI generated political content and ‘DEEPFAKES’? And yet you’re here doing it? Rules for thee!”
His comments highlight the significance of California’s attempts to regulate AI-generated content, efforts that culminated in Assembly Bill 2655.
Known as the Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act, the legislation sought to ban the distribution of materially deceptive election-related content, including deepfakes.
Newsom explained, “You can no longer knowingly distribute an ad or other election communications that contain materially deceptive content—including deepfakes.”
The law represented one of the first statewide attempts to formally address AI-generated political content.
However, AB 2655 faced legal challenges and was struck down earlier this month.
A federal judge ruled the law was preempted by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and could infringe on First Amendment rights, particularly regarding satire and parody, according to Politico.
The ruling has left open questions about the balance between regulating AI-generated political content and protecting free speech.
These developments underscore the ethical and legal challenges of using AI-generated content in politics, including verifying consent and preventing misrepresentation as AI tools become more accessible.
The Kid Rock-Newsom exchange highlights broader complexities in regulating AI, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines, ethical standards and public awareness to ensure responsible use in political messaging while balancing innovation in digital media.
