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FBI Director Kash Patel video appears to reuse Beastie Boys 'Sabotage' frames

newsMay 5, 202617397

NPR analyzed an anti-fraud promotional video posted by FBI Director Kash Patel and found multiple frames that closely mirror the Beastie Boys' 1994 'Sabotage' music video. NPR's frame-by-frame comparison identified near-identical shot composition, camera movement, and lighting across several cuts, and visual-effects experts told NPR the footage used AI-driven generation or manipulation. Patel's clip pairs Beastie Boys-style music and retro editing with official anti-fraud messaging, raising copyright and credibility concerns and showing how generative AI can produce realistic but derivative content for public officials.

NPR
@npr.org

An analysis by NPR suggests that frames from an iconic music video were used to generate content for a tweet by the FBI director. n.pr/4epM0wt

2303h ago
Erik the Rural Juror14

JFC you DO NOT disrespect the Beastie Boys!

jansky2300.bsky.social8

These are not serious, honest or responsible people.

Jon Nuelle8

I CAN'T STAND IT! I KNOW HE PLANNED IT! LISTEN ALL Y'ALL IT'S A SABOTAGE!

gadiv4

You know Kash generated a few versions with himself in the car with the Beastie Boys. Bet they're on his phone right now. Real party boy stuff.

Miss Diketon - Gary Numan and cats are my personality4

As someone who has seen the "Sabotage" video 37 million times since it's release in 1994, there is no suggesting here. It is a *total and obvious ripoff* of the video. I expect the remaining Beasties will be filing a lawsuit pretty goddamn soon. How anyone in GenX can vote Repuke is beyond me.

if7ate9.bsky.social3

Beastie Boys are no fans of their stuff being used without permission. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lawsuit from this. Leave it up to a Patel led FBI to go and break the law.

msdavinci.bsky.social2

They can’t create anything so all they do is steal steal ripoff and steal.

Black Cheesebürder #MDANT Band Naming Expert2

When you rip off the Beastie Boys you rip off all of the U.S.A

Paul Branzburg2

Of course he did how is this even a question

bluemoot.bsky.social2

The friggen FBI Director has too much time on his hands. My God, I hate everything.

Geoff Brumfiel
@gbrumfiel.bsky.social

EXCLUSIVE: Did FBI Director Kash Patel use AI to rip off the Beastie Boys? Experts say this FBI promotional video probably used AI-video generation to recreate the iconic 1994 music video for "Sabotage." www.npr.org/2026/05/05/n...

1303h ago
Geoff Brumfiel21

Patel tweeted out the roughly 2-minute promotional video on Monday. By Tuesday it had around half-a-million views.

KB5

We live in the stupidest timeline.

Max Slinger3

the FBI picked Sabotage of all songs to recreate with AI. while the music industry is literally in court over AI ripping off artists right now. somebody in that building has a law degree and just let this happen

Samantha biobabbler 3

Very apt that it was the sabotage vid.

The Daily Beast
@thedailybeast.bsky.social

The FBI director is hyping the release of UFO and alien-life files as the president’s war on Iran drags on.

223h ago
The Daily Zeitgeist
@dailyzeitgeist.bsky.social

The ol’ carrot on a stick should do it 🥕 @blakewexler.bsky.social @thecroftonshow.bsky.social @jackob1.bsky.social #kashpatel #fbi #trump #thedailyzeitgeist

72h ago
stephen fowler
@stphnfwlr.com

"A promotional video for the FBI posted by director Kash Patel appears to have used AI to generate short clips nearly identical to those in the Beastie Boy's iconic music video for their 1994 classic song 'Sabotage,'" according to an NPR analysis by @gbrumfiel.bsky.social.

32h ago
PCNiles 🦋
@pcniles.bsky.social

Kash Patel posted a promotional video on X about the FBI’s effort to combat “massive fraud.” The video used a copyrighted Beastie Boy video (Sabotage) without authorization or compensation. In other words, he defrauded them in his message to combat massive fraud. Oh the irony! Oh the corruption!

23h ago
bluemoot.bsky.social
@bluemoot.bsky.social

The friggen FBI Director has too much time on his hands. My God, I hate everything.

23h ago
jimrissmiller.bsky.social
@jimrissmiller.bsky.social

It surely seems he did … and the director of the FBI stealing musical artists’ work should be grounds for termination. You really cannot be a thief and director of the FBI. Did Kash Patel use AI to rip off the Beastie Boys? www.npr.org/2026/05/05/n...

12h ago
tag24news
@tag24.com

Facing firing rumors and fresh SNL mockery, FBI Director Kash Patel posted a bizarre Beastie Boys-soundtracked hype video for the FBI. 😬 🎥: X/@FBIDirectorKash

3h ago
Pete Glow
@peteglow.bsky.social

Of course they crow about how they’re fighting “fraud” by posting a video rife with fraudulent elements—and copyright infringement. The Beastie Boys should take legal action.

2h ago
Zeitlauf
@zeitlauf.bsky.social

could get you labeled as a “domestic terrorist” by Donald Trump’s FBI Director Kash Patel. Last year, Donald Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7. And now he’s asked Congress to fund it.

3h ago
hottrends.bsky.social
@hottrends.bsky.social

🔥 This afternoon's top trending topics — Tuesday, May 5 1️⃣ 📰 #epsteinweb trending on Bluesky 2️⃣ 💊 Hantavirus may have spread between passengers on cruise ship, WHO sa… 3️⃣ 💻 Did FBI Director Kash Patel use AI to rip off the Beastie Boys? 🔗 hottrends.ai

#epsteinweb trending on Bluesky — trending on HotTrends.ai
3h ago
Uli Koch
@ulikoch.bsky.social

This anti-fraud campaign not starting off well, with fraud. Self-sabotage. Did Kash Patel use AI to rip off the Beastie Boys? www.npr.org/2026/05/05/n...

3h ago
Adam
@mulliganstew.bsky.social

'Did the Director of the FBI use AI to rip off the Beastie Boys' is not a question or collection of words I thought I would ever have to contemplate.

3h ago
KFDM News
@kfdm6.bsky.social

Former FBI Director James Comey is facing federal charges tied to a social media post prosecutors say threatened President Trump. The case could hinge on intent—and First Amendment protections. READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4ncU5XC

3h ago
2 sources
npr.orgDid FBI Director Kash Patel use AI to rip off the Beastie Boys?n.prDid FBI Director Kash Patel use AI to rip off the Beastie Boys?

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