Governor of West Virginia Jim Justice took a few moments out of his State of the State address to blast Bette Midler for her disparaging remarks about West Virginians back in December.
“What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible,” Midler tweeted. “He sold us out. He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia. Poor, illiterate and strung out,” Midler tweeted.
What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible. He sold us out. He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia. Poor, illiterate and strung out.
— bettemidler (@BetteMidler) December 20, 2021
While rattling off a list of West Virginia’s recent accomplishments, Governor Justice took a moment to send a message to Midler —and he used his bulldog to deliver it.
“Babydog tells Bette Midler and all those out there: Kiss her hiney,” Justice said.
While the line was mostly well received, with many standing to applaud, not everyone was amused by the governor’s antics.
“The @WVGovernor brought his Babydog and pony show to the State of the State and pulled this stunt as some bold statement. It was nothing short of embarrassing and beneath the office,” he said. “Jim Justice habitually lowers the bar of our state. They don’t laugh with us, but at us,” tweeted Minority Whip Shawn Fluharty.
The @WVGovernor brought his Babydog and pony show to the State of the State and pulled this stunt as some bold statement. It was nothing short of embarrassing and beneath the office. Jim Justice habitually lowers the bar of our state. They don't laugh with us, but at us. #wvpol https://t.co/RU7BAD7Eye
— Shawn Fluharty (@WVUFLU) January 28, 2022
Nonsense, Fluharty —we’re laughing with you, West Virginia.