By: Sarah Jenkins, Senior Technology & Culture Correspondent

Published: January 4, 2026 | 08:15 AM EST

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Former IndyCar and NASCAR star Danica Patrick has moved swiftly to address a mounting online controversy, issuing a forceful denial late Tuesday after a wave of viral posts falsely attributed inflammatory anti-immigrant remarks to her. The incident, which triggered confusion, widespread backlash, and an intense social media debate, centers on fabricated quotes that appeared to criticize immigrants and specifically singled out U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar.

The firestorm erupted early Tuesday morning when a series of coordinated posts began circulating on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok. The posts featured what appeared to be screenshots of a deleted social media statement, alongside grainy, heavily edited video clips that purportedly showed Patrick making disparaging comments about the Somali-American community.

By Tuesday evening, the content had been viewed millions of times, prompting the hashtag #DanicaPatrickDenied to trend globally.

The Anatomy of a Hoax

The controversy appears to have stemmed from a sophisticated disinformation campaign. The circulated screenshots attributed a quote to Patrick claiming that “naturalized citizens like Ilhan Omar are eroding the fabric of American values,” a statement Patrick’s representatives have categorically labeled as “complete fiction.”

Furthermore, the video clips circulating alongside the text appear to be “deepfakes” or cheap-fakes—authentic footage of Patrick from previous interviews that was manipulated using AI voice-cloning technology to alter her words. In the original footage, traced by fact-checkers to a 2023 podcast appearance, Patrick was discussing fitness and nutrition, not immigration policy or politics.

“This is a textbook example of how quickly misinformation can weaponize a public figure’s likeness,” said Dr. Elena Ross, a digital forensics expert at the Center for Information Resilience. “The audio quality in the clip was slightly metallic, a hallmark of AI generation, but to the average scroller on TikTok, it looked and sounded indistinguishable from reality.”

Patrick’s ” unequivocal” Response

Facing a barrage of criticism from civil rights groups and confused fans, Patrick took to her verified social media channels late Tuesday night to set the record straight. In a two-minute video posted to Instagram and X, a visibly frustrated Patrick addressed the camera directly.

“I am making this video to address the disturbing and completely false rumors circulating about me today,” Patrick stated. “Let me be crystal clear: I did not say those things. The quotes attributed to me regarding the immigrant community and Representative Ilhan Omar are fabricated. The video clips you are seeing are fake. They are not my words, they are not my beliefs, and I am horrified that my voice is being used to spread hate.”

Patrick went on to emphasize her respect for people of all backgrounds. “I have always believed in open dialogue and respect. To see my platform hijacked to create division is something I will not stand for. We are taking immediate legal action to identify the source of this defamation and have these malicious posts removed.”

The Fallout and Public Reaction

Before Patrick’s denial, the reaction online was swift and severe. Several high-profile commentators and civil rights advocates had already issued statements condemning the alleged remarks. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) had initially called for an apology, though they later updated their statement acknowledging the likelihood of a hoax following Patrick’s video.

“The danger of these fabrications is that the damage is often done before the truth can put its shoes on,” noted political analyst Marcus Thorne. “Even with her denial, there is a segment of the internet that will believe the fake quotes are real, or that she is simply backtracking. It muddies the water of public discourse.”

Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), the target of the specific fake quotes, has not yet issued a formal statement regarding the hoax. However, sources close to her office indicated they are monitoring the situation and are concerned about the increasing use of AI to generate targeted harassment against political figures and their alleged critics.

Conversely, a portion of Patrick’s fanbase expressed relief following her clarification. “I was so disappointed when I saw the headlines,” wrote one user on the NASCAR subreddit. “Knowing it’s a deepfake makes me relieved, but also terrified of the internet.”

A Growing Trend of Digital Impersonation

This incident involving Danica Patrick is the latest in a troubling string of “identity hijackings” affecting celebrities and athletes in early 2026. Just last week, a similar incident occurred involving an edited clip of an NBA player, highlighting the rapid advancement and accessibility of AI tools that allow bad actors to generate convincing fake narratives in minutes.

Tech platforms are struggling to keep up. While X and Meta have policies against synthetic media that misleads the public, the sheer volume of reposts—often shared by bots or unwitting users—makes containment nearly impossible. In Patrick’s case, despite the content being flagged as “manipulated media” by community notes on X, the screenshots continue to circulate in private Facebook groups and encrypted messaging apps.

Legal and Future Implications

Legal experts suggest that Patrick may have grounds for a significant defamation lawsuit if the original creators of the content can be identified. “This goes beyond satire or parody,” explained legal analyst Aron Solomon. “This is attributing specific, harmful political speech to a private individual, damaging their reputation and commercial viability. It is libel, modernized.”

As of Wednesday morning, Patrick’s team is reportedly working with cybersecurity firms to trace the origin of the upload.

For now, the racing icon is focused on damage control, urging her followers to be critical of what they see online. “Please,” Patrick implored at the end of her video, “verify before you share. Don’t let the liars win.”

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatility of the current digital landscape, where a reputation built over decades can be threatened in seconds by a few lines of code and a malicious intent.