Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has apologized for how her viral Doritos video was “construed” following a backlash from Catholics who accused her of mocking the Eucharist.
Ms. Whitmer, a Democrat, insisted she had no intention of demeaning anyone’s religious beliefs when she fed a tortilla chip to feminist podcaster Liz Plank as she apparently kneeled before the governor in a video posted Thursday.
“Over 25 years in public service, I would never do something to denigrate someone’s faith,” Ms. Whitmer said in a public statement. “I’ve used my platform to stand up for people’s right to hold and practice their personal religious beliefs.”
Her statement came after Michigan Catholic Conference President and CEO Paul Long denounced the scene as an “all-too-familiar example of an elected official mocking religious persons and their practices.”
Ms. Whitmer, who wears a “Harris-Walz” ball cap in the video, said that the video was meant to plug the CHIPS Act, the 2022 law promoting the domestic production of semiconductors.
“My team has spoken to the Michigan Catholic Conference,” she said. “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.”
Her defenders have argued that the performance was part of a TikTok trend in which one person feeds a food item to another, but Mr. Long said the skit went beyond the social-media fad by “specifically imitating the posture and gestures of Catholics receiving the Holy Eucharist.”
“It is not just distasteful or ‘strange’; it is an all-too-familiar example of an elected official mocking religious persons and their practices,” he said in a statement. “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.”
About 100 Catholics held a “Rosary Rally for Religious Respect” outside Ms. Whitmer’s house Sunday by praying, singing, and holding signs with messages such as “Our Religion Is Not Your Viral Moment.”
The conservative group CatholicVote said the rally was intended to promote “respect for our faith after she seemingly mocked the Holy Eucharist in a viral video—adding to the unsettling trend of anti-Catholic bigotry within the Democratic Party.”
Catholics praying outside the home of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, seeking respect for our faith after she seemingly mocked the Holy Eucharist in a viral video—adding to the unsettling trend of anti-Catholic bigotry within the Democratic Party. pic.twitter.com/UeYA0gmFiM
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) October 14, 2024
The other woman in the video wasn’t taking it kneeling down, though.
Ms. Plank swung back, declaring in a Substack post that “the right-wing media machine spun the narrative into something ludicrous, with claims that we’re attacking religion or pushing a hidden anti-church agenda.”
“When I got the chance to interview Governor Gretchen Whitmer for my new show Chip Chat, I decided to promote our conversation using one of the many trends currently circulating online,” said Ms. Plank, whose Instagram handle is “feministabulous.”
She also said she wasn’t kneeling, but rather sitting on a couch, although she was positioned well below Ms. Whitmer, who was standing.
Mr. Long said that “Michigan is a religiously diverse state and includes thriving communities of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim believers.”
“The time is now for those in public office, their handlers, and strategists to return a level of respect, civility, and appreciation for those who have found peace and fulfillment in life by worshiping God and serving their neighbor,” he said.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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