A Maryland school athletic director, Dhazon Darien, aged 31, was arrested at BWI-Marshall Airport for allegedly creating and distributing a deepfake audio recording that misrepresented the principal of Pikesville High School as making racist remarks. Darien faces multiple charges, including stalking, theft, disruption of school operations, and retaliation against a witness.
The controversy began in January when the audio, purportedly of Principal Eric Eiswert, circulated widely on social media, leading to Eiswert’s temporary removal from his position amid a barrage of phone calls and social media backlash directed at the school. According to the recording, the speaker makes derogatory remarks about the students’ and teachers’ abilities and makes offensive comments regarding race and ethnicity.
“You know, I seriously don’t understand why I have to constantly put up with these dumbasses here every day,” the recording said. “Between these ungrateful black kids who can’t test their way out of a paper bag, or these teachers who don’t get it, how hard is it to get these students to meet their grade level expectations?” It then went on to criticize faculty before saying “And if I have to get one more complaint from one more Jew in this community, I’m going to join the other side.”
The Baltimore Sun reported that the police investigation revealed conclusive evidence pointing to Darien as the creator of the fake recording. It is believed that Darien’s actions were in retaliation against an investigation by Eiswert into Darien’s alleged misuse of school funds. Eiswert had suspected Darien’s involvement in the creation of the deepfake.
The incident sparked significant reactions, including from Black Lives Matter activist Deray McKesson, who publicly criticized Eiswert and called for his dismissal, believing the recording to be genuine.
Eric Eiswert was my social studies teacher and then the SGA Advisor at Catonsville High School and I am in no way surprised by his comments in this recording.
He should be fired immediately and his Maryland teaching and administrator licenses should be permanently revoked. https://t.co/NiVSd8GgiU
— deray (@deray) January 17, 2024
This case has been highlighted by Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger as a landmark incident concerning the misuse of artificial intelligence technology to fabricate content that can severely impact individuals and institutions. Shellenberger emphasized the necessity of examining the potential abuses of such technologies in harming others, despite the specific charge of disrupting school activities carrying a relatively minor sentence of six months.
Darien was subsequently released on a $5,000 bond