Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer offered an apology after participating in a bizarre video stunt in which she appeared to mock the Communion sacrament.
“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,” Whitmer said in a statement toFox 2 Detroit.
“My team has spoken to the Michigan Catholic Conference. 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.”
The controversy erupted after Whitmer filmed a bit with left-wing influencer Liz Plank that showed Plank on her knees while Whitmer placed a Dorito in her mouth. The camera then panned to a bemused looking Whitmer wearing a Harris-Walz campaign hat.
The spot was apparently a riff on a viral TikTok meme in which friends feed each other food before staring uncomfortably into the camera. The 2022 CHIPS Act signed by President Biden authorized nearly $280 billion in domestic spending on domestic research, particularly in STEM fields.
Whitmer is a top surrogate for Vice President Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign, and the imbroglio comes as Harris faces skepticism from Catholic voters over a series of slights.
Roughly 18% of Michigan residents are Catholic and the state is a critical 2024 battleground. The state’s Catholic Conference issued a harsh condemnation of the skit, saying the imagery went well beyond the viral meme.
“The skit goes further than the viral online trend that inspired it, specifically imitating the posture and gestures of Catholics receiving the Holy Eucharist, in which we believe that Jesus Christ is truly present,” said Paul A. Long, Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO.
“It is not just distasteful or ‘strange,’ it is an all-too-familiar example of an elected official mocking religious persons and their practices. While dialogue on this issue with the governor’s office is appreciated, whether or not insulting Catholics and the Eucharist was the intent, it has had an offensive impact.”
