Source: Joe Raedle / Getty
Former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum faced questions and accusations after a multiple reports concluded he was found intoxicated in a Miami Beach hotel room with a man who had suffered “a possible drug overdose,” USA Today reports.
According to police, Gillum was unable to cooperate during questioning because he was inebriated. Officers reported uncovering white baggies in the room containing suspected crystal meth.
“I was in Miami last night for a wedding celebration when first responders were called to assist one of my friends,” Gillum, 40, said in an apology released Friday afternoon.
“While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines,” he added. “I apologize to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused our movement.” He concluded that he would spend the remainder of the next few weeks with his family and asked for privacy.
But on social media the pile-on exploded, with many conservative voices lashing out at Gillum, accusing him of a drug addiction and other harrowing allegations containing outlandish homophobia, without the presence of proof.
Candace Owens, a supporter of Trump who has undoubtedly been used by her constituents as a prop, credits herself with breaking the news on social media.
Soon after the voices wouldn’t stop.
But many questioned this focus on Gillum and the oncoming scandal when a worldwide health pandemic is happening right underneath the eyes our deeply unprepared leadership. Gillum is also married with three children, which many pointed out was clearly an afterthought in these hot takes and unprompted analysis.
Gillum is the newest target for conservatives to tear apart. He also regularly contributes to CNN as a political analyst on-air. After losing Florida’s 2018 gubernatorial race on the Democratic ticket to Gov.Ron DeSantis, he’s to rise as a moderate, liberal, voice advocating for voting rights and the destruction of systemic racism. Two of the biggest items that rile conservatives to their core. Prior to his run he was the mayor of Tallahassee, Florida from 2014 until his gubernatorial run in 2018.
While the press has every right to publish articles pertaining to what transpired because he is a public figure, it does not give people like Candace Owens the right to make accusations that are unfounded or confirmed.
Beacause the situation in Miami is by no means on the same level of concern as the coronavirus which continues to see a spike in numbers while Trump offers no clear plan or solution to quell the fears of those who will be the most affected, underserved communities. It shows another way in which the media can be used to sway public opinion and turn attention away from issues that truly deserve our focus.
