An actress is branding a Republican governor with a title used by the Ku Klux Klan.
During the Tony Awards on Sunday, actress Denée Benton took aim at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) as she said, “Earlier tonight, CMU and the Tony Awards presented the 2023 Excellence in Theater Education Award.”
“And while I am certain that the current grand wizard… I’m sorry, excuse me, governor of my home state of Florida… I am sure he will be changing the name of this following town immediately. We were honored to present this award to the truly incredible and life-changing Jason Zembuch Young, enhancing the lives of students at South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida,” she added.
The audience roared with laughter and applause in response.
Watch the video below:
Denée Benton calls Governor Ron DeSantis the "current grand wizard" of Florida at the #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/O2iEfbOvQO
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 12, 2023
Her comments were blasted by conservatives.
National Review senior writer Noah Rothman tweeted, “The more that the culture feels like it’s moving on from Trump by treating DeSantis just like they did Trump, the more Republican voters will apply the heuristic of negative partisanship toward a favorable evaluation of DeSantis.”
The more that the culture feels like it’s moving on from Trump by treating DeSantis just like they did Trump, the more Republican voters will apply the heuristic of negative partisanship toward a favorable evaluation of DeSantis. https://t.co/sDNlRYmQFS
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) June 12, 2023
“BREAKING: Rich, elitist, progressive dingbats clap like seals to total nonsense,” tweeted conservative commentator Dave Rubin.
BREAKING: Rich, elitist, progressive dingbats clap like seals to total nonsense. https://t.co/7XHmLd1z2f
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) June 12, 2023
The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, wrote, “So much courage and bravery.”
So much courage and bravery https://t.co/v3i49HhGNK
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 12, 2023
Benton’s comments come after the NAACP issued a travel advisory for Florida.
The advisory claims Florida has “engaged in an all-out attack on Black Americans, accurate Black history, voting rights, members of the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, women’s reproductive rights, and free speech, while simultaneously embracing a culture of fear, bullying, and intimidation by public officials.”