As an alternative to the BBC’s annual broadcast of a Christmas message from Queen Elizabeth II, Channel 4 shared its own message using a deepfake version of the head of the United Kingdom monarchy.
In the video, this digital version of the Queen takes a few jabs at such targets as Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Canada, and jokes about the toilet paper crisis many people faced early on in the COVID-19 pandemic. Then she busts into a dance for a TikTok video before taking a more serious turn and advising people to be wary of what they see online and on TV, because not everything may be as it appears. By the end of the video, the veneer comes off and we see the green screen set and actor portraying the Queen.
It’s kind of a fun way for Channel 4 to both put out the word on deepfakes and also remind people to be diligent about the media they consume, even though this particular deepfake isn’t exactly top quality.