An AI-generated campaign video featuring Black residents praising Republican Fort Bend County Judge Daniel Wong has sparked accusations of racial exploitation and political deception, raising questions about whether the people featured knowingly agreed to have their images and voices manipulated to endorse his candidacy.
The controversy erupted after Wong’s campaign posted a video on Facebook featuring Black residents crediting him with helping them secure jobs, obtain food, and pay their utility bills. The video, which was also shared by the Fort Bend County Republican Party, appeared to feature genuine testimonials from supporters ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
“He gave me a job,” one man says in the video.
“He turned on my lights,” another declares.
Two women offer similar praise, crediting Wong with providing food and helping them find employment.
But social media users quickly questioned the video’s authenticity, pointing to distorted backgrounds, warped clothing, and strikingly similar voices among the people featured. The video was subsequently identified as AI-generated and removed from Wong’s campaign platforms.
The controversy intensified amid allegations that the images of actual Black campaign workers had been used without their knowledge or permission. One woman reportedly expressed outrage after discovering her likeness in the video, saying, “That’s my face, but I never said those words.”
Those allegations have not been independently verified, and questions remain about what permission, if any, the individuals gave to use their images.
McCoy calls video racist and demands accountability
Democratic Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy, who is challenging Wong for county judge, condemned the video and accused his opponent of exploiting Black residents for political gain.
“Stealing the faces of ordinary people to fake support from Black voters is racist, vile, and wrong,” McCoy said in a statement. “Daniel Wong should apologize to the poll workers he exploited for political gain.”
McCoy also accused Wong of attempting to manufacture support among Black voters rather than earning it through his policies and leadership.
“Wong knows his extreme MAGA agenda doesn’t sell in Fort Bend County, so he’s using AI to manufacture support he can’t earn himself,” McCoy said. “That’s not the judgment of someone ready to lead the most diverse county in Texas.”
In an interview with FOX 26 Houston, McCoy said the individuals depicted in the video had been made to deliver statements they never agreed to make.
“Unfortunately, those images that were taken to make a video, folks were made to say things that they never consented to do,” McCoy said. “They were completely exploited in this sort of situation, and that’s disgusting.”
Wong campaign blames Democratic supporter
Wong’s campaign has denied producing the video, saying it was created by an outside supporter who identifies as a Democrat.
“The video that has purportedly stirred ‘outrage’ among Democrats was actually created by a Democrat,” the campaign said in a statement. “It was shared with the campaign, but it was not produced by the campaign. It has now been removed from the campaign’s social media platforms.”
The campaign did not publicly identify the video’s creator.
Bobby Eberle, Wong’s communications director, subsequently acknowledged that the video was AI-generated but maintained that its creator had claimed to obtain permission from the people depicted.
“I talked to the creator of the video today, and he told me that he received consent,” Eberle said.
The campaign’s account directly conflicts with allegations that some individuals did not authorize the use of their likenesses or the statements attributed to them. Whether consent was obtained and what that consent covered remain unresolved.
Rather than focusing solely on those questions, Wong’s campaign also criticized McCoy for making race an issue in the election.
“Dexter McCoy has rolled out the tired ‘race card’ to blast fellow Democrats simply because they support County Judge Daniel Wong,” the campaign said.
Eberle maintained that the individuals featured were genuine Wong supporters and accused McCoy of politicizing the controversy.
McCoy rejected the campaign’s explanation, arguing that candidates must accept responsibility for material distributed through their official channels.
Black voters question the message
Beyond concerns about artificial intelligence and consent, the video’s messaging has generated criticism for portraying Black voters as dependent on a politician for jobs, food, and financial assistance.
In the original Facebook caption, Wong thanked the individuals for their loyalty and suggested their support reflected the assistance he had provided.
“I’ve been there for you when you needed a job, food, the lights on, or a way forward. Now you’re here for me. That’s loyalty,” the caption read.
For some Black voters, that message reinforced troubling stereotypes about what Black communities expect from elected officials.
“We’re not looking for handouts,” attorney and political commentator Erika Harrison said in an Instagram video criticizing the advertisement. “We’re looking for deeper policies that can impact us, our children, and the generations after us.”
The criticism underscores a larger concern about how political campaigns portray Black voters, particularly in a county where racial diversity and shifting political allegiances have made elections increasingly competitive.
Texas law restricts certain deceptive AI-generated political videos distributed close to an election. Whether the Wong video violates any applicable law has not been determined.
High stakes in Fort Bend County
The controversy comes during the final stretch of a closely watched race for leadership of one of the nation’s most diverse counties.
Wong, a Republican, is seeking a full term after being appointed interim county judge following the suspension of former County Judge K.P. George. McCoy, a Democrat, currently serves as Fort Bend County Precinct 4 commissioner.
An October poll conducted by Texas Southern University showed McCoy leading Wong 49% to 40%, with 11% of likely voters undecided. Wong’s campaign disputed those findings, saying its internal polling showed a much closer contest.
