The Uxbridge Republican Town Committee has condemned the town’s Select Board chair for sharing an AI-generated video portraying former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
The video shared by Brian Butler featured animals with the faces of Democratic Party politicians singing and dancing to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens. The video begins with two apes with the Obamas’ faces dancing to the song. It ends with the animals bowing to a lion with President Donald Trump’s face.
Comparing or depicting Black people as monkeys or apes has long been considered a racist act.
Butler shared the video on Sunday, but it has since disappeared.
“I know I’m gonna catch a load of crap, but this is way too funny!” Butler wrote on the now-deleted Facebook post. “C’mon you have to agree.”
On Wednesday, URTC Chair Tomas Etzold wrote on Facebook that the committee was “deeply disappointed” by Butler’s post.
“The URTC condemns all forms of hate, racism and discrimination. We believe that every resident of Uxbridge deserves respect, dignity and equal treatment — regardless of race, background or belief. Our committee stands firmly for integrity, accountability and unity within our community,
