What did Gretchen Whitmer do? Doritos communion controversy explained as Michigan governor issues apology
Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer recently issued an apology for a video where she was feeding Doritos to the podcast host, Liz Plank. The clip went viral on October 10, 2024, and Whitmer was wearing a Harris-Walz hat as she went on her knees while feeding Plank.
The video was criticized for making fun of a sacred Christian ritual and Whitmer apologized through a statement shared with Fox 2 Detroit. She started by saying:
"Over 25 years in public service, I would never do something to denigrate someone's faith. I've used my platform to stand up for people's right to hold and practice their personal religious beliefs. My team has spoken to the Michigan Catholic Conference."
Whitmer also stated:
"What was supposed to be a video about the importance of the CHIPS Act to Michigan jobs, has been construed as something it was never intended to be, and I apologize for that."
Gretchen Whitmer's video received criticism from different personalities
As mentioned, a clip featuring Gretchen Whitmer with podcast host Liz Plank started trending on social media last week. The former was spotted putting Doritos on the tongue of Plank, and the video was shared through Liz's Instagram page on October 11, 2024. Plank also wrote below the clip:
"If he won't, Gretchen Whitmer will. Chips aren't just delicious, the CHIPS Act is a game-changer for U.S. tech and manufacturing, boosting domestic production of semiconductors to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers! Donald Trump would put that at risk."
While the video was criticized on different platforms, a section of the public claimed that it was possibly linked to an ongoing TikTok trend called Feeding Someone.
Users posted videos as part of the trend where they have to feed each other and a single by Nelly and Kelly Rowland, Dilemma, is used in the background of the clips.
Plank's video was also used for the promotion of Whitmer's interview on the Chip Chat podcast which was shared through YouTube on October 10, 2024. The criticism of the clip continued, with well-known faces sharing social media posts about them.
Donald Trump's adviser Tim Murtaugh also reshared the clip through X by writing:
"Gov. Whitmer of Michigan is pretending to give communion to a leftist podcaster on her knees, using a Dorito as the Eucharist while wearing a Harris-Walz hat. Do they want zero Catholic votes for Harris?"
President of the Catholic League Bill Donohue also responded to the clip through a statement, saying that Gretchen Whitmer "intentionally ridiculed the Eucharist", as per The Hill. Donohue continued by saying:
"There is no way to understand this stunt other than as an expression of vintage anti-Catholic bigotry. Whitmer's team, and her allies in the media, are trying to distort what she did."
Gretchen Whitmer's political advisor responds to the criticism
Gretchen Whitmer has yet to address the responses to the video. However, Helena Hare, a spokesperson for Whitmer's movement, Fight Like Hell PAC, which aims to protect everyone's fundamental rights, has responded to the criticism in a statement.
According to The Hill, the TikTok trend is being followed by many popular faces such as Billie Eilish and Kylie Jenner but the public is hardly bothered about them. Hare also mentioned:
"Republicans want to distract from the fact that Democrats have invested billions of dollars into local economies to create a record number of jobs and bring supply chains back from overseas, while Donald Trump's policies would kill these jobs and send them back to China."
While Gretchen Whitmer has already apologized for the video, it remains to be seen if the criticism will end her or continue in the upcoming days.