A Black athletic director at a Baltimore high school has been accused of using artificial intelligence to generate a recording of the school’s white principal delivering a racist rant.
Dazhon Darien, 31, previously worked as athletic director at Pikesville High School, but was the subject of an investigation into mishandling school funds.
In an act of retaliation, Darien allegedly generated a fake audio recording of the school’s principal, Eric Eiswert, “spewing racial and anti-Semitic slurs at staff and students.”
The recording, published on an Instagram. accountallegedly captures Pikesville High School Principal Eric Eiswert making racially charged comments.
“Seriously, I don’t understand why I have to constantly put up with these morons here every day,” the speaker is heard saying.
Dazhon Darien, 31, is the athletic director of a Baltimore high school and has been accused of using artificial intelligence to generate a recording of the school’s white principal delivering a racist rant.
In an act of retaliation, Darien allegedly generated a fake audio recording of the school’s principal, Eric Eiswert (pictured), “spewing racial and anti-Semitic slurs at staff and students.”
‘Between these ungrateful black kids who can’t get out of a paper bag or these teachers who don’t get it. How difficult is it to get these students to meet grade level expectations?’
The speaker said, ‘And if I have to receive one more complaint from one more Jew in this community, I will join the other side.’
Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough said his department worked with the FBI and forensic experts at the University of California, Berkeley to investigate the recording, which circulated online in January 2024.
“Dazhon Darien, the school’s athletic director, produced the recording to retaliate against Principal Eiswert, who had launched an investigation into the mishandling of school funds,” McCullough confirmed after the investigation.
Darien was arrested at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Thursday morning on an outstanding warrant, according to abc13.
The former athletic director now faces charges of harassment, disruption of school operations and retaliation against a witness. He is currently being held on $5,000 bail.
The dispute between Darien and Eiswert began in July 2023, when Darien became athletic director and fired a longtime coach who worked for Pikesville High School without the principal’s permission.
Further conflict ensued when Darien authorized a payment of $1,916 to his roommate, who also worked as the school’s junior varsity basketball coach.
Darien claimed that she was acting as an assistant soccer coach for the women’s soccer team, even though the coach never helped out during the season.
Court documents claim this payment circumvented proper procedures.
The former athletic director now faces charges of harassment, disruption of school operations and retaliation against a witness. He is currently being held on $5,000 bail.
The recording, posted to an Instagram account, allegedly captures Pikesville High School Principal (pictured) Eric Eiswert making racially charged comments.
Billy Burke, executive director of the union representing Baltimore County administrators, previously told the Baltimore flag Back in January when the audio was circulating that the voice is not Eiswert.
‘We believe it is generated by AI. He didn’t say that,” Burke said. ‘If he was in that position today my heart would be a little broken.
‘He denounces them [the comments in the recording]and he did not make those statements.’
It’s unclear where or when the recording comes from, but at one point it addresses a person named Kathy. The community speculates that she is Deputy Principal Kathy Albert, reported WBFF.
Other staff members are discussed in the recording, including one who, according to the announcer, “should never have been hired.”
When talking about a different employee, the speaker said, “I’m going to get your black ass out of here one way or another.”
“The BCPS Schools Department was made aware of an alleged audio recording by Principal Eiswert that included derogatory comments about some PHS students and staff,” Joseph said.
‘We immediately notified the BCPS Investigations Office and they are investigating this matter. While this is a personnel matter and I am limited in what I can share, I will provide an update as soon as more information is available.’
The dispute between Darien and Eiswert began in July 2023, when Darien became athletic director and fired a longtime coach who worked for Pikesville High School without the principal’s permission.
Superintendent Myriam Rogers said: ‘These statements are deeply disturbing and do not reflect the core values of our school system.
“Although BCPS cannot confirm the veracity of this recording at this time, we are taking this matter seriously and have launched an investigation.”
According to Eiswert’s biography on the school’s website, he has worked for Baltimore County Schools since 1997 and before starting in Pikesville was an assistant principal at New Town High School.