Lee Hanson deepfake video — Oct 2026

In October 2026, a political advertisement produced by One Nation using generative AI triggered a public confrontation between a Tasmanian cafe owner and a local political candidate. The incident highlights the growing friction between political messaging and local business discourse in the age of synthetic media.

What happened

The controversy began when the Richmond Reading Room, a cafe north of Hobart, posted a statement on social media expressing disgust toward a new One Nation video titled "It's ok to come out … as a One Nation voter." The AI-generated video featured various controversial depictions, including a man with an explosives vest and a man wielding a machete, while addressing topics such as mass migration, gender identity, and power prices.

In their social media post, the cafe owners referenced a regular customer—One Nation candidate and Pauline Hanson's daughter, Lee Hanson—by pointing to her vehicle parked outside the shop. The cafe owners declared that any money spent by One Nation members at their establishment would be donated directly to the Tasmanian Greens. They described their business as being run by a "pro-generative AI"-opposed, trans-inclusive, and pro-multicultural Greens voter.

Lee Hanson responded to the post on her own social media, stating she was "genuinely hurt" and shocked by the public targeting. She criticized the cafe for preaching inclusivity while simultaneously singling out customers based on their political associations. Hanson noted that she had supported the business for years and argued that the owners should have spoken to her directly if they had an issue with her presence. She concluded that she would no longer support businesses that make customers feel unwelcome due to their political views.