Canes fans confused by AI player photo posted by NC Senate candidate Michael Whatley
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Whatley campaign posted an artificially generated Hurricanes player image on social media.
- Whatley confirmed the campaign used AI when asked about the graphic.
- Jordan Monaghan of Cooper’s campaign called Whatley out of touch over the AI graphic.
Michael Whatley may find himself sitting on the bench after his Senate campaign’s social media accounts posted a photo of an artificially generated image of a hockey player from the Carolina Hurricanes to cheer on the team in the Stanley Cup Final.
“Let’s Go, Canes,” the post stated.
But the image appeared to be a mashup of several players into one.
The backlash was swift.
One social media user wrote: “Hey dawg I’ll vote for you if you can tell me this player’s name and number.”
“A real Caniac like @RoyCooperNC would never,” another responded.
Cooper, North Carolina’s former governor and a die-hard Canes fan, is the Democrat facing off against Whatley in the U.S. Senate campaign.
Cooper’s campaign spokesman, Jordan Monaghan, saw the post and replied, “Quick question @WhatleyNC – who is this? Can you name this player? Are you that out of touch that you had to use AI to generate a Canes player? Guess they might not carry our games up in DC ... What a joke.”
Whatley, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, is often criticized for spending his time in Washington — where the Capitals play — instead of North Carolina. While he holds events across the state, he rarely advertises them widely.
But Whatley appeared Wednesday at an event he did advertise to the media, in Zebulon, where he hoped to stay focused on “No Tax on Tips” policies.
Instead, he was asked to name his three favorite Hurricanes players.
“I think we like them all,” Whatley said. “I don’t have a favorite player. Look, I think that’s a team that’s loaded. They’re playing offense really well. I’m excited about that.”
He wasn’t off the hook, because he was asked about the image his campaign had posted.
“It was just a graphic that we used,” Whatley said.
Asked if it was made using artificial intelligence, he confirmed it was.
“I want to see the Carolina Hurricanes win,” Whatley said. “I think it’s absolutely great for the state, and I think it’s fun that they’re in the Stanley Cup finals, and we did use AI for a graphic, it’s not a big deal, but we’re excited about watching them — see how they do in the finals.”
Some Hurricanes fans did think it was a big deal, with one user saying the post “Cost us game 1.”
The Hurricanes played the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, and lost 5-4. Game 2 is Thursday at 8 p.m.
North Carolina voters take their state’s culture very seriously, and a small slip-up like this can draw a lot of unwanted attention.
Ask any candidate what their favorite barbecue is, and they may refuse to pick between eastern- and western-style ‘cue because they know it’s a divisive subject.
Social media can be particularly fraught. Take Republican Rep. Mark Walker’s Wafflegate episode, in which his order at Waffle House during his Senate campaign and his choice of a utensil — pen — left North Carolinians confused and a photograph defending himself made the situation even worse.
Or there’s the 2020 Barbecuegate, in which Democratic Senate candidate Cal Cunningham posted a photograph on social media that indicated that grilling on a gas grill was the same as barbecue.
If you don’t understand the scandal, you’re not from around here.
This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 8:24 PM with the headline "Canes fans confused by AI player photo posted by NC Senate candidate Michael Whatley."
