JD Vance uses a beauty pageant contestant’s video to attack Kamala Harris: Former Miss South Carolina’s reaction
5 september 2024 в 20:28
Senator Jay Dee Vance, who has been criticized multiple times for derogatory remarks about women since becoming a partner of former President Donald J. Trump in July, found himself at the center of a scandal again. This time, he used a viral clip featuring a beauty pageant contestant who stumbled in her response to attack Vice President Kamala Harris, making women the object of his «joke».
Former Miss South Carolina Teen USA Caitlin Upton became the subject of constant mockery and ridicule after her viral performance in 2007 at a beauty pageant, where she stuttered in response to a question about why many Americans cannot locate the United States on a map.
After Vance revived the clip on August 29 with the caption «I got Kamala Harris' full interview on CNN», Upton responded on August 30: «It's a shame that 17 years later this is still being brought up».
«There's not much to say about it at this point. Regardless of political beliefs, one thing I know — social media and online bullying must stop», she continued, adding: «For anyone going through something similar, please visit EndCyberbullying.org and WhiteFlag as resources».
Since Upton’s statement was made, her account on X was deleted. Responses to her post included many critical comments from internet users, pointing out that, according to them, she supported Trump for a long time — he owned the pageant from 1996 to 2015. A 2007 photo of Upton and other contestants posing with Trump and Donald Trump Jr. at the pageant party was widely circulated on X.
In a 2015 interview with New York Magazine, Upton, who worked as a model after the pageant and participated in The Amazing Race in 2010, said: «I definitely had a period where I was very, very depressed. But I never let anyone see it except for the people I could trust. I had very dark moments when I thought about suicide».
«And one day someone put a letter in my parents' mailbox saying that my body would be eaten by ants and burned in an accident. And then it was written in caps: DIE, CAITLIN UPTON, DIE BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPIDITY», she added, noting that the cruel comments lasted «every day for two years».
Despite the outrage over the post, Vance remained unapologetic. After being informed about Upton’s mental health issues, he told CNN’s John Berman: «Politics has become too boring, John, too boring».
«You can have fun making an argument to the American people about how to improve their lives. I’m not going to apologize for the joke», he said, adding: «but I wish Caitlin all the best and hope she is doing well»
Former Miss South Carolina Teen USA Caitlin Upton became the subject of constant mockery and ridicule after her viral performance in 2007 at a beauty pageant, where she stuttered in response to a question about why many Americans cannot locate the United States on a map.
After Vance revived the clip on August 29 with the caption «I got Kamala Harris' full interview on CNN», Upton responded on August 30: «It's a shame that 17 years later this is still being brought up».
«There's not much to say about it at this point. Regardless of political beliefs, one thing I know — social media and online bullying must stop», she continued, adding: «For anyone going through something similar, please visit EndCyberbullying.org and WhiteFlag as resources».
Since Upton’s statement was made, her account on X was deleted. Responses to her post included many critical comments from internet users, pointing out that, according to them, she supported Trump for a long time — he owned the pageant from 1996 to 2015. A 2007 photo of Upton and other contestants posing with Trump and Donald Trump Jr. at the pageant party was widely circulated on X.
In a 2015 interview with New York Magazine, Upton, who worked as a model after the pageant and participated in The Amazing Race in 2010, said: «I definitely had a period where I was very, very depressed. But I never let anyone see it except for the people I could trust. I had very dark moments when I thought about suicide».
«And one day someone put a letter in my parents' mailbox saying that my body would be eaten by ants and burned in an accident. And then it was written in caps: DIE, CAITLIN UPTON, DIE BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPIDITY», she added, noting that the cruel comments lasted «every day for two years».
Despite the outrage over the post, Vance remained unapologetic. After being informed about Upton’s mental health issues, he told CNN’s John Berman: «Politics has become too boring, John, too boring».
«You can have fun making an argument to the American people about how to improve their lives. I’m not going to apologize for the joke», he said, adding: «but I wish Caitlin all the best and hope she is doing well»
© Artemenko Olga
