Drag Queens Issue Cease and Desist to GOP Candidate Over Deepfaked Attack Ad

A group of North Carolina drag queens have issued cease-and-desist orders to the funders of a political ad for Republican Jennifer Balkcom after being depicted as deepfaked versions of themselves dancing with Democratic opponent Jamie Ager.The ad in question, which was approved by Balkcom, features Ager dancing with several drag queens — including Sister Domina Trix, Sister Helen Bedd, and Divine Holeburn — in an event that the ad claims was a real event. Balkcom, currently a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, and Ager, a first-time political candidate, are currently running against one another in the state’s 11th district for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. - YouTube www.youtube.com The ad opens with Jager yelling, “Do you know what we need more of in Washington, D.C.? Barn dances!” A voiceover then announces that Jager hosted a barn dance featuring drag queens and children. However, according to local NBC and CBS affiliate WYFF, while Agers’ farm did host a dance in 2019 that was advertised as featuring drag queens, the campaign says the queens did not show up. One queen featured in the ad, Nova, told WYFF that she “never met that man in my life,” and that she had never been to his property or done a performance there. Divine Holeburn, speaking to WYFF, had a similar story. “I have never met Jamie Ager,” she told WYFF. “I have no affiliation with him at all.” She continued, “I didn't even know he had a barn until this; this barn dance event was not real.”Divine and Nova, along with other queens deepfaked in the ad, have sent notices of cease and desist to Balkcom’s campaign, as well as the National Republican Congressional Committee, which bankrolled the television spot. The cease and desist gives the campaigns until November 2, the day before the election, to pull the spot or face legal action.“I felt used,” Divine added to WYFF. “I felt like, what if this person used my image and body to do oth