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Unauthorized Kamala Harris Ads Surface in Philadelphia, Eagles Deny Endorsement
In an unusual turn of events, Philadelphia residents were greeted by a series of unauthorized political advertisements featuring Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday. The ads, which depicted Harris in an Eagles uniform holding a football, bore the tagline "Official candidate of the Philadelphia Eagles." The NFL team has since confirmed that the ads were counterfeit and is working to have them removed.
The Philadelphia Eagles issued a statement on social media acknowledging the fake ads and their efforts to address the situation. "We are aware counterfeit political ads are being circulated and are working with our advertising partner to have them removed," the statement read.
NBC Philadelphia reported that at least six of these counterfeit ads were spotted around the city before being taken down later on Monday. The source of the ads remains unknown.
The ads included a link to Philadelphiaeagles.com/vote, a legitimate but nonpartisan site that provides important election dates and resources for voter registration. Intersection Media, the company responsible for the bus stop advertising where the ads were found, confirmed that the ads were not paid for but were instead forcibly placed into the ad boxes.
Scott Goldsmith, President and CEO of Intersection Media, stated, "We are aware that several of our bus shelters located in Philadelphia have been vandalized and that the paid advertising copy in each of those shelters has been replaced with unauthorized copy." He noted that while the ad boxes are locked to prevent vandalism, people sometimes manage to unlock them and insert unauthorized material.
A city spokesperson confirmed to NBC Philadelphia that the physical break-ins were not a digital breach. "Whomever is responsible for the illegally placed posters broke into the securely covered shelter ad space and somehow put the posters in the space," the spokesperson said.
The incident comes amid a growing trend of fake political ads proliferating online, including a Kamala Harris deepfake that went viral in July and AI-generated images of Donald Trump that spread misinformation earlier this year.
Kamala Harris' campaign did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Intersection Media have both denied any involvement in the creation or posting of the unauthorized ads. Intersection Media staff are working to remove the ads as soon as possible.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of misinformation and unauthorized political advertising in both physical and digital spaces. As the 2024 election cycle approaches, the need for vigilance and verification of political messaging becomes increasingly important.