Gavin Newsom press office slammed for hurling Grindr insult at MAGA influencer
California govenor, Gavin Newsom. (Getty)
The press office of California’s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom has been called out online for using a “homophobic” insult involving LGBTQ+ hookup app Grindr against a MAGA influencer.
Posting to Bluesky on 25 March, Newsom’s press office shared a screenshot of a post from right-wing political commentator Benny Johnson of The Benny Show.
Johnson had shared a video from his appearance on Jesse Watters’ Fox News show where he spoke about fraud in California. During the segment, Watters alleged that the state had an issue with fraudulent hospices and daycares that registered as official businesses to receive government funding.
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“I got a call from the White House after this,” Johnson wrote alongside the video. “There is a reason Gavin Newsom looks so terrified right now. He should be. Buckle up. The fraud investigation is about to get insane. Starting this week…”
The official Governor Newsom Press Office account then shared the post, writing: “We got a call from Grindr after this and said your team was their biggest users. Congrats!”
‘Homophobia is a very, very bad look’
However, the comment wasn’t the burn it was intended to be. Many Bluesky users criticised the post in the replies, with one user writing: “Man, listen Governor Newsom Press Office, homophobia is a very, very bad look. C’mon now.”
“Hahahaha! Being gay is funny! Hahahaha! It’s so funny it’s the punchline to a joke! Hahahaha! We’re the good guys!” added another, sarcastically.
Another wrote: “Democrats will keep pivoting to the right until they become Donald Trump. We’re gonna get a Democrat running on getting rid of gay marriage by 2032.”
Some even called for the author of the tweet to be terminated from the press office team. “Hey there, accusing people of being gay as an insult is hate speech,” one user said. “You should fire whoever wrote this.”
Another shared: “No way, a politician pushing transphobia is also making homophobic jokes? Inconceivable!”
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