Homophobic DeSantis Ad Featuring Oiled-Up Bodybuilders Was Just Quietly Deleted
A controversial 2024 presidential campaign ad for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has been quietly deleted from Twitter less than 48 hours after the candidate defended the ad as “totally fair game” even as it garnered widespread criticism from both sides of the aisle as being homophobic.
The campaign ad was released by the unofficial Twitter account DeSantis War Room and then shared by the governor’s presidential campaign, which shows Trump saying he would “do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens” in 2016 (despite never making good on his promises) and expressing support for transgender women using female bathrooms and competing in Miss Universe, contrasted against DeSantis’ policies targeting transgender and LGBTQ rights in the state of Florida.
The ad also splices in clips of various television programs and films, including Patrick Bateman from American Psycho (played by Christian Bale), Achilles from Troy (played by Brad Pitt), and Tommy Shelby from Peaky Blinders (played by Cillian Murphy).
Also featured are a set of photoshopped “Chad” stock photos of ultra-buff, hyper-masculine men, popular in right-wing online circles to represent agreeable viewpoints.
