We spoke to the man making viral Lego-style AI videos for Iran. Experts say it’s powerful propaganda
Viral AI Videos: A New Form of Propaganda
These AI-generated clips, inspired by Lego’s instantly recognizable aesthetic, appear deceptively simple at first glance. Yet they depict scenes of dying children, fighter jets, and US President Donald Trump, serving as potent pro-Iranian propaganda. For the BBC podcast *Top Comment*, we spoke to a representative of Explosive Media, one of the leading creators of such content. He requested to be called Mr. Explosive, a social media strategist who initially denied ties to the Iranian government. In past interviews, his outlet has claimed independence, but under further scrutiny, he admitted the regime is a “customer”—a term he had never publicly acknowledged before.
The Creator and His Strategy
The videos convey a clear message: Iran is resisting a global oppressor, the United States. Though garish and unsubtle, their impact remains strong, with viewers actively sharing and commenting. In one clip, Trump tumbles through a storm of “Epstein file” documents as rap lyrics declare, “the secrets are leaking, the pressure is rising.” Another shows George Floyd beneath a policeman’s boot, paired with the message that Iran “stands here for everyone your system ever wronged.”
“Slopaganda”—a term coined in an academic paper last year as a play on ‘AI slop’—is too weak to capture the power of this ‘highly sophisticated’ content,” says propaganda expert Dr. Emma Briant. The clips have been viewed hundreds of millions of times during the war, according to estimates.
During a video call, Mr. Explosive was framed in silhouette, with red and green light reflecting the Iranian flag. On his desk lay a green-feathered helmet symbolizing Shia warrior Husayn ibn Ali, a recurring figure in their videos. He explained that his team, fewer than ten people, uses Lego-style graphics because “it is a world language.” Iranian and Russian state media frequently share these videos, reaching millions of followers.
Expert Insights on the Impact
When asked about the Epstein files in his videos, Mr. Explosive said they were included to illustrate “the kind of confrontation they are witnessing” between Iran, which “seeks truth and freedom,” and those “associated with cannibals.” This refers to a theory linking the Trump administration to cannibalism, despite lacking credible evidence.
Mr. Explosive also defends factual inaccuracies in some clips. For instance, a video shows the Iranian military capturing a downed US pilot, but US officials confirmed the airman was rescued by special forces on 4 April and is now receiving treatment in Kuwait. Mr. Explosive disputes this, arguing: “Possibly there was no lost pilot, no rescue operation. Their main goal was to steal uranium from Iran.”
“Only 13% of what Mr. Trump says is based on facts,” he claimed, pushing back against the official narrative.
Dr. Tine Munk, a cyber warfare expert at Nottingham Trent University, describes Iran’s tactics as “defensive memetic warfare.” She notes that these strategies are necessary to counter US rhetoric, leveraging AI tools trained on Western data to create culturally resonant content. This approach allows authoritarian states to target the West more effectively than before.
Explosive Media’s videos emerged in early 2025, gaining immense traction during the US-Iran conflict. The Lego-style clips are now more detailed, showcasing specific Gulf locations like power stations, airports, and industrial sites under Iranian missile fire. Their growing influence underscores how AI is reshaping the landscape of global propaganda.
