Transgender influencer Rose Montoya is issuing an apology for a controversial incident at the White House.
In a video posted on Twitter, Montoya addressed the decision to briefly go topless.
“In a quick moment of fleeting and overwhelming trans joy, I decided to do something unbecoming of the guest of the president at the White House lawn celebration,” the influencer said.
Montoya went on:
“I want to take this moment to apologize for the impact of my actions. I especially want to apologize to my black trans brothers and siblings, especially transgender women who are black. Because I understand that you all are constantly at a disproportionate level, impacted by the actions of others, and especially by anti-trans violence.”
Watch the apology below:
Rose Montoya, the trans model and activist who removed her top at a White House pride month event, has posted a video apologizing to President Biden, Dr. Biden, her community, and the nation. pic.twitter.com/ODlVPJq7Xk
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) June 16, 2023
Additionally, Montoya said, “I would also like to apologize to my family and friends who have been harassed.”
“And last but not least, I would like to apologize to the president, the White House, and the nation. It was also never my intention to create a situation that would lead to harassment and harm of myself and others, nor for trans joy like my little moment of trans joy to be weaponized by vile people of the opposition,” the influencer added.
A video surfaced on Monday night from Montoya’s TikTok account from the White House’s Pride event.
It showed the influencer interacting with President Joe Biden and stating, “It’s an honor, Mr. President. Trans rights are human rights.”
As Fox News explained, the video “shows Montoya and another unnamed transgender activist, a biological female, baring their breasts on the South Lawn with the White House in view behind them.”
On Tuesday, a statement from the White House condemned the incident.
“This behavior is inappropriate and disrespectful for any event at the White House. It is not reflective of the event we hosted to celebrate LGBTQI+ families or the other hundreds of guests who were in attendance,” the statement read.
Montoya initially addressed the backlash from the video, saying, “I had zero intention of trying to be vulgar or be profane in any way. I was simply living my joy, and my truth, and existing in my body.”