Mark Matlock, candidate for the right-wing Reform UK Party, Independent He’s not an AI bot as some had suspected, but a real person.
Maybe it’s the glowing, ultra-smooth skin he has in campaign photos, or the fact that Matlock has seemingly missed events like the vote count. But earlier this week, a thread on X questioned whether Matlock even exists. “We may be in for a major scandal,” the post read.
However, Matlock is a human candidate who was seriously ill during the election.
“I got pneumonia three days before the election and tried to exercise, take vitamins and vote but it was impossible. I couldn’t even stand on election night,” he said. Independent. Matlock also provided the original photo that caught his attention to the outlet, saying he removed the background and changed the color of his tie. But the photo certainly has the rubbery, creepy look we’ve come to associate with AI, especially Matlock’s hair and skin. This should be a good lesson for all public office holders: don’t edit your photo to look like the result of a mid-journey in response to the prompt “young, unintimidating politician.”
As Parents points out that some Reform UK candidates have provided few details about themselves online, likely fuelling speculation about Matlock, so if you’re planning on standing for election in the near future, be sure to attend events, engage with voters and maintain a low public profile – and of course, refrain from editing your photos.
