Olaf Scholz has been portrayed as a bodybuilder, hip-hop artist, and even a kebab shop owner in recent TikTok videos created using artificial intelligence. While some find these videos humorous, experts warn they could harm his image.
A recent TikTok video shows Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, standing in front of a mirror in shorts, flexing exaggeratedly large muscles. In the background, the song “Chabos wissen wer der Babo ist” by Frankfurt rapper Haftbefehl plays. This video, created with artificial intelligence (AI), is one of several that have transformed Scholz into an unusual and exaggerated figure.
AI parodies of Olaf Scholz spark debate on TikTok
The muscle-bound Scholz is just one of several AI-generated parodies circulating on TikTok. In another video, Scholz is seen performing a TikTok dance with the caption, “Olaf Scholz is losing it.” In another, he appears as a cross between himself and Haftbefehl, dubbed “Olafbefehl.” The 38-year-old rapper Haftbefehl is associated with drugs and gangster rap, a stark contrast to the 66-year-old Chancellor.
Andre Wolf, an expert on fake news, categorizes the creators behind these TikTok accounts (@mbp_comedy, @machdasplusweggg, and @vatos97locos) as entertainment-focused. They mainly post parodies that use AI to imitate public figures. However, due to TikTok’s sharing nature, identifying the original creator is challenging. “These entertainment accounts use parodies to gain attention and likes, portraying Scholz as a quirky character, which is intended as satire,” Wolf explained.
AI parodies may have unintended consequences
Not all Scholz parodies are purely for entertainment, warns Wolf. One video, for instance, shows Scholz selling kebabs, dressed in overalls and joking around in front of a kebab spit. The video, posted by a TikTok user named @333olja333, who displays blue hearts around her username, might seem harmless or even funny, reminiscent of a viral stunt by Markus Söder, the CSU leader, who recently auctioned off a kebab dinner.
However, Wolf points out that this account also shares content glorifying AfD parliamentary leader Alice Weidel, suggesting that the user is aligned with the AfD. “This political account aims to ridicule Scholz by portraying him in an unfavorable light,” Wolf notes.
Could the parodies affect Scholz’s public image?
According to Wolf, AI-generated parodies from a pro-AfD account could negatively impact Scholz, potentially causing him to “lose authority in the eyes of some voters.” However, Wolf also notes that viral videos can sometimes increase a politician’s visibility rather than damage their reputation.
Wolf referenced Martin Schulz, a former politician who became an internet meme during his 2017 campaign with hashtags like #Gottkanzler and #SchulzFacts. Despite the viral attention, Schulz did not become Chancellor. Scholz, however, is more active on social media and has his own TikTok account, giving him the opportunity to shape his public image directly. Since early April, he has been working to become more popular with younger audiences.
Whether these AI parodies will ultimately harm or help Scholz remains uncertain. As Wolf concludes, “It remains to be seen whether these parodies will damage Scholz or even benefit him by increasing his attention.”
