White House Avoids Commenting on Controversial Comedy Roast of Vice President Kamala Harris

The White House has remained silent on the controversy surrounding a planned comedy “roast” of Vice President Kamala Harris at the University of South Carolina. The event, organized by the nonprofit Uncensored America, has sparked outrage due to its vulgar advertising and the participation of far-right extremist figures Milo Yiannopoulos and Gavin McInnes.

The NAACP has condemned the event, calling on USC President Michael Amiridis to cancel it. Critics argue that the event goes beyond free speech and exposes students, particularly Black students, to hate speech and a hostile environment.

Despite calls for cancellation, President Amiridis has refused to pull out of hosting the event, citing the First Amendment rights of students. The controversy comes amid ongoing racist and sexist attacks against Vice President Harris, who has chosen to take the high road in response.

Democrats and strategists have advised Harris to remain focused on running a campaign that highlights the issues that matter to American voters, rather than engaging with cheap shots from her opposition. U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester emphasized the importance of staying focused on winning and defining Harris as a strong and qualified leader.

The controversy surrounding the roast of Vice President Harris highlights the ongoing challenges faced by women of color in politics and the importance of standing up against hate speech and discrimination.