Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) issued an apology after posting a video appearing to mock the sacrament of the Eucharist, claiming she “would never do something to denigrate someone’s faith.”
Whitmer’s office provided a statement to a local affiliate claiming the video, where she’s seen wearing a camo Harris-Walz hat while placing a Dorito chip onto the tongue of podcaster Liz Plank, was “supposed to be a video about the importance of the CHIPS Act to Michigan jobs.”
“Over 25 years in public service, I would never do something to denigrate someone’s faith,” Whitmer said in her statement Friday. “I’ve used my platform to stand up for people’s right to hold and practice their personal religious beliefs.
Very rarely do I come across a political video that I have no comment on.
— Still Boneless (@still_boneless) October 10, 2024
This Gretchen Whitmer video is so bizarre that I’m at a loss for words.
pic.twitter.com/tBtghJEI8t
“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.”
Democrat sources with knowledge of Whitmer’s participation also defended her Dorito stunt, claiming video refers to a viral TikTok challenge called “The Dilemma” where one person awkwardly feeds a friend of theirs on camera.
Several outraged Catholic groups blasted Whitmer following the video’s release last week.
Catholic League President Bill Donohue said Whitmer’s video had “insulted Catholics nationwide.”
Whitmer “insulted Catholics nationwide when she intentionally ridiculed the Eucharist in a video,” Donohue wrote. “The short video was posted by podcaster Liz Plank on her Instagram account. Whitmer, who is wearing a Harris-Walz hat, is standing above Plank, who is kneeling in front of her. Plank opens her mouth and Whitmer places a Dorito chip on her tongue, mocking the Eucharist.”
Donohue added that there was “no way to understand this stunt other than as an expression of vintage anti-Catholic bigotry.”