TV personality and cardiac surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz announced his run for U.S. Senate just three weeks ago and his campaign is already in a tailspin.
Oz, who lives in New Jersey, announced late last month that he’s running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania after Pat Toomey opted not to run for reelection in 2022.
Over the weekend, leaked audio of Oz speaking at a private luncheon in New York City found its way onto the internet. In it, the TV doctor can be heard making all sorts of anti-trans remarks and voicing his support for TERF author J.K. Rowling.
Related: Another problematic, totally unqualified GOP TV star is running for office. Thanks, Oprah!
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LGBTQ Nation reports:
Oz went on a confusing, conflicting diatribe while claiming he had to share things about trans issues he “definitely couldn’t have said” on his daytime television show. That ranged between complaints that it’s “not fair” to only “protect one group of people” to a defense of “feminists” from “cancel culture,” such as the “very brave” anti-trans author J.K. Rowling.
“J.K. Rowling, who’s not some icon of the conservative party, said something that I think was very brave. She was a lifelong feminist, and then she’s canceled,” Oz can be heard saying. “I’ve talked to people who are canceling her, who would’ve been making a lot of money off her, and they can’t defend what they’re doing, or they don’t wanna be in trouble.”
Related: Caitlyn Jenner’s campaign debrief has begun and OMFG what a mess that was
Shortly after the audio leaked, Oz fired off an angry tweet blasting Democrats and saying it’s time to cancel “cancel culture”, writing, “It’s time to stand up to the Left and end the cancel culture mob that is destroying our country.”
It’s time to stand up to the Left and end the cancel culture mob that is destroying our country.
— Dr. Mehmet Oz (@DrOz) December 18, 2021
Now, the responses…
You’re confusing cancel culture with consequences.
— M.D. Lafrance (@MD_Lafrance) December 18, 2021
You want to cancel the people you claim are cancelling people?
— Mac (@MonsterVetArt) December 19, 2021
More Republican leaders try to ban books on race, LGBTQ issues https://t.co/t6k1ebGtKM
— (Italian) Bamboo cryptologist (@TinResistAgain) December 18, 2021
Have you considered running for Senate in a state you actually live in, Mehmet?
— Kit Kat (@kitty_michelson) December 18, 2021
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!
— mr. jinx (@mstrjinx) December 18, 2021
Oprah come get ur guy he’s broken
— Andy (@AndyCrCl) December 18, 2021
No one’s asking you to stand up for them, especially your neighbors next door, in Pennsylvania.
— Mary Ann S. (@MareOfMedia) December 18, 2021
This is what people say when you’re afraid something is going to come out about you real soon.
— Space Monkey Mafia (@ChaKatKimber) December 19, 2021
Name 10 PA counties without cheating.
— markw3dinger (@markw3dinger) December 18, 2021
🖕
— Ted Cruz Poodle & Kitten 🍹🐩 (@TedCruzPoodle) December 18, 2021
While we’re on the subject of things being canceled, last week Sony Pictures said it will end “The Dr. Oz Show” after 13 seasons next month. The show will be replaced by the spinoff series “The Good Dish,” hosted by Oz’s daughter Daphne.
CNBC reports:
The decision comes nearly two weeks after TV stations in New York City, Philadelphia and Cleveland said they would no longer broadcast the show because of the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rules.
Those rules allow candidates to ask for air time from TV stations that carry content, and the stations that dropped the show all are seen in parts of Pennsylvania.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
mastik8
The mid terms will provide a divide and conquer buffet that everyone can take advantage of.
Brian
Why isn’t he in jail yet? He lives in a blue state and illegally voted in a swing state. This is all already public knowledge.
Donald Trump was right: “When you’re famous, you can do anything.” The local District Attorneys could not care any less that a famous, rich person broke the law.
Fahd
He’s a cardiac surgeon? Ben Carson was a neurosurgeon? How dumb can smart be?
Sqwoah
Is everybody like “Girl, Byeeeee,” or is it just the author?
Thad
Well, it includes me. Byeeeee!
And I vote in Pennsylvania. But John Fetterman, the best kind of crazy, has my vote.
mailliw110
Yeah, it’s everyone…I heard it on the internet, so it must be true.
GrizzleyMichael
Why not cancel all these stupid republicans
Jaquelope
I guess if someone whose address is Missouri can become a Representative in North Carolina, I guess a resident of New Jersey can become a Representative of Pennsylvania. I live in Nebraska, so I should run to become a Representative of Oregon or Utah, shouldn’t I?
Fat chance of that, I suppose.
Wheelerman
I’m in Pennsylvania. I wouldn’t let this gasbag quack anywhere my heart just as I would never have left brain-dead Ben Carson anywhere near my brain. I’ll do my best to help Oz lose.I am Team Fetterman in all his tattooed glory. I mute my TV when Oz comes on looking for votes.
CNY1983
One word about oz: YICK!
Cam
Best part, Oz is attacking the state he’s running in because they are using his first name “Memet” on the ballot.
So he is tacitly admitting just how racist Republicans are, if they see his “foreign sounding” name he thinks they won’t vote for him.
As for his anti-vaxx and other issues, we can all thank Oprah for elevating people like him, Doctor Phil and even giving Jenny MacCarthy a platform to spew her anti-vax B.S.