Sen. Kelly Loeffler Mocked For Claiming She’s Been ‘Canceled’
Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) claimed Wednesday that she’s been “canceled” for her opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement, prompting critics to point out she’s still one of the wealthiest members of Congress, co-owner of the Atlanta Dream WNBA team and has faced no real consequences for her actions.
“I’ve been canceled for calling the BLM political organization what it is: A Marxist group,” Loeffler tweeted on Wednesday. Several hours earlier, she seemed to have a different take, tweeting about “the left’s failed attempt to cancel me after I exposed the divisive and destructive agenda of the BLM political organization.”
I’ve been canceled for calling the BLM political organization what it is: A Marxist group.
Here’s what BLM co-founder Patrise Cullers said about herself & co-founder Alicia Garza (who sits on @WNBA’s Social Justice Council): “We are trained Marxists.” https://t.co/2QhphpQqd1— Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) July 22, 2020
For weeks, pressure has mounted for Loeffler to sell her stake in the WNBA — the league is dedicating this season to supporting social justice issues including Black Lives Matter ― after she made a string of comments vehemently opposing the anti-racism movement.
In June, Loeffler, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and advocate for gun rights, said on Fox News that Black protesters carrying guns in Atlanta were practicing “mob rule,” prompting WNBA players to publicly call for her ouster.
And this month, she’s faced increased backlash after declaring her opposition to the WNBA’s public support of Black Lives Matter. In a Tuesday interview with ESPN, Loeffler voiced concerns that the league’s support of the movement could leave some sports fans feeling “excluded.”
While distancing Loeffler from the Atlanta Dream, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said on CNN last week that the senator would not be forced to sell her share of the team.
Loeffler, who was appointed to a vacant Senate seat in December, was the subject of nationwide scrutiny over insider trading allegations earlier this year after she profited from large stock trades following private congressional meetings about the looming coronavirus pandemic. She was cleared of wrongdoing by the Justice Department.
She’s been polling behind Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) to keep her seat for a full term this November.
Twitter users struggled to identify what consequences Loeffler’s actually suffered for her opposition to Black Lives Matter and proposed some options that might better meet the criteria for being truly “canceled”:
If this is what being “officially cancelled” looks like — a US senator with incredible wealth and power, freely expressing her opinions — then congratulations, you’ve just proved the phrase is meaningless.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) July 22, 2020
you're a fucking US Senator. you have not been "canceled."
— marisa kabas (@MarisaKabas) July 22, 2020
I like how you take breaks from trading on non-public information to complain about fairness.
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) July 22, 2020
People are dying all over America, Kelly. Can you please stop whining about yourself? Or is narcissism your go-to?
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) July 22, 2020
Getting told your opinions suck is not getting cancelled. It’s just having a mirror held up to your awful opinions. Which suck.
— Blake Murphy (@BlakeMurphyODC) July 22, 2020
Canceled for what? You are rich and got appointed to your job because you are rich.
The only cancel going on here is America voting your insider trading ass out of office.— YS (@NYinLA2121) July 22, 2020
Insider tip (cause I know you love those): facing criticism for your stated positions as a public official is not being canceled. Even when you lose your job as a Senator, that is not being cancelled. It's just democracy.
— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) July 22, 2020
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This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
