Drag Performers Send Cease-and-Desist Over AI Ad
The National Republican Congressional Committee faces legal demands after an AI-generated ad used likenesses of North Carolina drag performers without their consent.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Drag performers issued cease-and-desist orders to the National Republican Congressional Committee over an AI-generated ad depicting them dancing with Democratic candidate Jamie Ager. The committee paid for the ad and said it stands by it.
Why it matters
The ad raises questions about consent and the use of AI-generated likenesses in political advertising in North Carolina's 11th congressional district race. The performers say their likenesses were generated from a photo one of them shared online months earlier.
The ad was generated using AI versions of drag performers' likenesses, drawing on a photo Nova Jynah shared online months earlier. The source does not specify the AI tool or model used to produce the images.
The players
National Republican Congressional Committee
The national fundraising and campaign arm of House Republicans, which paid for the AI-generated ad and said it stands by the content.
Jamie Ager
Democratic candidate in North Carolina's 11th congressional district whose farm and campaign are depicted in the ad.
Jennifer Balkcom
Republican candidate in North Carolina's 11th congressional district who approved the AI-generated advertisement.
The details
The ad shows Ager dancing with Sister Domina Trix, Sister Helen Bedd, and Divine Holeburn at an event the ad claims was real. Republican candidate Jennifer Balkcom approved the ad, and Ager's campaign said Balkcom was attacking Ager with fake, AI-generated ads.
Timeline
2019: Ager's farm hosted a dance advertised as featuring drag queens, though the campaign said the performers did not show up.
November 1, 2026: Coverage of the cease-and-desist orders and the AI ad controversy was published.
Legal Context
Using AI to generate likenesses of real people in political ads has become a recurring point of dispute in U.S. campaigns. This case places a legal challenge from private individuals directly against a national party committee's advertising.
Residents of North Carolina's 11th district may encounter AI-generated campaign material that depicts real people without their consent. Individuals whose likenesses are used in such ads may need to pursue cease-and-desist demands to seek removal.
The takeaway
Political advertisements that use AI-generated likenesses can affect real people who never agreed to appear in them. Voters should verify whether depicted events actually occurred before relying on campaign imagery.
Further reading
For related coverage of how these tools are being applied, see Artificial Intelligence reporting on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent.
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