July 12, 2022
Watch: Out Queer Lawmaker Unapologetic about 'Twerk Out the Vote' Video
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
When an out queer Rhode Island lawmaker – who is also a woman of color – posted a viral video of herself twerking in a bikini, trolls unleashed a torrent of racism and misogyny. But State Sen. Tiara Mack is pushing back. Mack appeared in another video (this one posted by TMZ) in which she declares, "I will not apologize for, you know, having enough cake to twerk."
Mack made the video as a "get out the vote" message, and says the viral clip is a measure of her authenticity, TMZ noted.
"Mack, a Democrat representing District 6 in Rhode Island, uploaded the video of her twerking upside down while on a beach onto TikTok on July 4," Newsweek detailed.
"'Vote Senator Mack' she says at the end of the eight-second clip."
"Underneath her original TikTok, social media users left thousands of comments, a majority of which were praising the Democrat over the video," Newsweek added.
Unsurprisingly, the video also drew legions of haters.
Mack told TMZ, "Since the twerking video came out there have been a subset of racist misogynistic people who have called me anything and everything from the n-word to fat to gorilla," Mack told TMZ (video below). "Many of the negative comments that I have received have been racially motivated, have been racially disgusting."
However, Mack "says she's never shied away from labeling herself as a 'queer, Black woman,' and hopes she can show the younger generation it's ok to be yourself and stay happy while making a difference in the community," TMZ reported.
The anti-LGBTQ+ "Libs of TikTok" account helped the video go viral, Newsweek recounted, noting that once Libs of TikTok shared the video it was quickly "viewed nearly 2 million times..."
Other culture war pundits also picked up on the video, including Tucker Carlson, who slammed Mack – and Democrats in general – for the video, Newsweek detailed.
But Mack told TMZ that "her supporters know exactly what kind of politician she is – one who's never going to become a fake politician, so she doesn't think an apology is in order for something that is authentically her."
Watch Mack's comments to TMZ below.
