During a routine House Oversight Committee meeting on whether to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, the controversial far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attacked the physical appearance of a fellow congresswoman.
Speaking to Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, the Georgia Republican suggested that Crockett鈥檚 鈥渇ake eyelashes鈥 were getting in the way of her reading and understanding the point of last week's hearing.
In response, Crockett called out Greene for having a 鈥渂leach-blonde, bad-built, butch body.鈥
The exchange quickly went viral across social media, with many relishing in the entertainment value of seeing the two lawmakers in a verbal spat, almost more akin to something usually seen on reality television.
Crockett has leaned into the virality of the moment. She filed to trademark the 鈥淏6鈥 phrase and announced a 鈥淐rockett Clapback Collection鈥 line of merchandise to benefit House Democrats.
Greene, meanwhile, has defended her physique, boasting of an active, healthy lifestyle.
Amid the jokes, memes, and even about the congressional fight, were conversations about race, gender and stereotypes.
Crockett called the comments about her lashes racist, noting that Black women鈥檚 appearances are often critiqued 鈥 whether it be for their natural appearances or for style choices that are often made to better appeal to European beauty standards.
The immediate backlash within the halls of Congress to Crockett鈥檚 remarks, as opposed to the general silence from Republicans on Greene鈥檚 comments on Crockett鈥檚 appearance, has also come under fire.
Many have noted the fact that there were immediate calls for Crockett to soften her tone after having been attacked, versus the tacit acceptance of Green鈥檚 comments on Crockett.
During the raucous hearing, Crockett was repeatedly told by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and was told she was 鈥渙ut of control,鈥 despite Greene having been the one to instigate the back-and-forth on appearances.
On the other hand, some have accused Crockett of employing transphobic language for her use of the word 鈥渂utch鈥 in her response to Greene.
Crockett said she "meant no harm to anyone in the [LGBTQ] community."
She on X 鈥 formerly Twitter 鈥 she always has "and always will stand 10 toes down with the community."
Copyright 2024 NPR