California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office has faced backlash for social media posts mocking conservative commentator Benny Johnson and his team as frequent users of the gay dating app Grindr. The remarks, made in response to Johnson’s allegations of fraud in California, have sparked accusations of homophobia from critics, including Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who called the comments "disparaging to the gay community."
Newsom’s office defended the posts, stating in a response to Fox News Digital, "We love gay people and it’s very woke of you to ask about this! We’re sorry some conservative snowflakes had their feelings hurt. We hope they recover!" The governor’s team has previously used Grindr as a punchline in responses to Johnson, including a January post suggesting Grindr servers would be prepared for Johnson’s team’s travel to California.
Johnson, who has been vocal about alleged fraud in California, accused Newsom of attacking journalists to distract from the issue. The controversy comes amid a House Oversight Committee investigation into California’s unemployment fraud, which Republicans have highlighted as a key concern.
Newsom, a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, has faced criticism for the rhetoric used in the posts. The remarks have reignited discussions about Republicans and gay dating apps, with some social media users describing the posts as homophobic. The governor’s office has not backed down from the comments, maintaining that they were intended as satire.