‘I certainly don’t stand with MAGA’: Chris Daughtry sets the record straight after AI photos of him paying tribute to Charlie Kirk go viral

Los Angeles, CA – Chris Daughtry is done playing nice with the internet.

In the chaotic aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death, a wave of hyper-realistic AI-generated images exploded across social media showing rock legends paying tribute to the conservative activist: Bob Dylan clutching a Turning Point USA flag, Bruce Springsteen wearing a MAGA hat at a candlelight vigil, and Chris Daughtry on stage in a black suit, black armband, and a massive jumbotron reading “RIP CHARLIE — GONE TOO SOON.”

The photos were viewed more than 87 million times in under 48 hours. They were also 100% fake.

Daughtry, 45, broke his silence in a new blistering Rolling Stone interview and a fiery Instagram video, making it crystal clear where he actually stands, and how deeply the lies cut.

“I certainly don’t stand with MAGA, Charlie Kirk, Turning Point, or any other movement rooted in bigotry or intolerance or exclusivity,” Daughtry told the magazine. “So when this AI garbage starts lumping me into these groups that do not align with my values, the things I stand for, and where my heart actually is, it affects me on a deep level. I don’t want anyone out there believing that for one second. When it starts to step on or completely contradict the things you stand for, that’s when it hurts the most.”

The American Idol Season 5 breakout and Daughtry frontman went on to explain how his worldview has shifted dramatically over the past two decades.

“I’ve evolved quite a bit as a human over the last 20 years. I don’t hold the same religious dogma I grew up with. I’m all about equal rights — including equal rights for LGBTQ and minority communities. Full stop.”

He also addressed a second wave of AI-generated poison that falsely claimed his 20-year marriage to Deanna Daughtry was “on the rocks,” complete with doctored paparazzi photos and fabricated tabloid headlines screaming “DAUGHTRY DIVORCE SHOCKER!”

In an Instagram reel posted Friday morning, Daughtry stared straight into the camera, voice steady but furious.

“S*** is getting just unbelievably nuts out there with the fake accounts, the fake news, the fake headlines. If you see something about me that isn’t posted from my verified account (@chrisdaughtry) or the verified Daughtry band page — or at least reposted by us from a legitimate source — then it’s not real. Period.”

He continued: “I’m asking you guys — begging you — please be vigilant. Don’t share that crap. Call it out when you see it. Because this AI stuff is getting scary good, and it’s starting to really mess with people’s lives, reputations and families.”

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The fake Charlie Kirk tribute images were so convincing that major outlets, including Fox News and Newsmax, initially ran them before issuing retractions.

One version showing Daughtry on stage with the caption “Gone too soon, brother — you fought the good fight” was shared over 400,000 times on X alone before the platform slapped a community note on it.

Daughtry’s team confirmed to Rolling Stone that neither he nor the band ever commented on Kirk’s death, attended any memorial, or posted anything related to Turning Point USA.

Daughtry is hardly alone. The same week saw fake images of Taylor Swift performing at a Trump inauguration rehearsal, Bruce Springsteen playing a private MAGA rally in New Jersey and Billie Eilish wearing a “Women for Trump” shirt.

All debunked. All viewed hundreds of millions of times.

“This isn’t just about me,” Daughtry said. “It’s about truth. And right now, truth is under attack harder than ever. If they can make you believe I’m mourning someone whose entire brand was built on division, they can make people believe anything.”

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The singer closed the Rolling Stone interview with a warning, “I’ve spent twenty years trying to be honest with my fans — about my struggles, my growth, my beliefs. I’m not letting a computer algorithm undo that. Not today. Not ever.”

As of Saturday morning, the hashtag #RealDaughtry is trending worldwide, with fans flooding his verified accounts with support. One top comment sums it up: “They tried to turn Chris Daughtry into a MAGA prop. He just burned the whole stage down. Legend.”