Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recent video showing her feeding Doritos to a left-wing influencer has drawn condemnation from the state's Catholic leaders, who view it as a mockery of Holy Communion.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recent viral video depicting her feeding Doritos to a left-wing influencer on a podcast has sparked outrage among Catholic officials in the state, who have condemned the clip as a mockery of Holy Communion.
Published on feminist author and filmmaker Liz Plank's Instagram page, the clip shows Whitmer wearing a Harris-Walz hat and placing a Doritos chip into Plank's mouth as she kneels down on the floor. The video was intended to advocate for Vice President Kamala Harris' policies ahead of the presidential election.
Whitmer's 'Bizarre' Doritos Communion Video Sparks Outrage Among Michigan Catholics
Catholic officials, including the state's seven diocesan bishops, released a statement expressing their "profound disappointment and offense" at Whitmer's actions in the video. They described the stunt as an "all-too-familiar example of an elected official mocking religious persons and their practices."
"In the skit, Whitmer lays a Dorito chip on the extended tongue of a woman, who as the camera pans out is shown to be kneeling in the same manner as one would when receiving Communion on the tongue," the Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) said in its statement. "The governor then stares expressionless into the camera."
Whitmer's 'Bizarre' Doritos Communion Video Sparks Outrage Among Michigan Catholics
MCC President and CEO Paul A. Long emphasized that Whitmer's video "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."
The statement also noted a wider decline in respect for religion, stating that "people of this state and across the country have grown tired of and continue to express their alarm at the bar of civility and respect toward people of faith lowering by the day."
Whitmer's 'Bizarre' Doritos Communion Video Sparks Outrage Among Michigan Catholics
Whitmer's actions have also drawn criticism from conservatives on social media, with some accusing her of mocking the Christian sacrament. Former Trump advisor Tim Murtaugh tweeted, "Let's be clear what's happening in this video. Gov. Whitmer of Michigan is pretending to give communion to an leftist podcaster on her knees, using a Dorito as the Eucharist while wearing a Harris-Walz hat."
Responding to the controversy, a political aide for Whitmer told Fox News Digital that the governor's social media posts often infuse popular culture into her communications. "This popular trend has been used by countless people, including Billie Eilish, Kylie Jenner, and Stephen Colbert," the aide said.
However, MCC President Long maintained that Whitmer's video had an "offensive impact" even if she did not intend to offend Christians. "The governor's office did not immediately reply to Fox News Digital's most recent request for comment on the MCC's statement," the article concluded.
