LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued an apology following backlash over a recent video in which she was seen feeding a Dorito to a podcaster in a manner some critics said resembled a religious communion ritual.
In a statement released on Friday, Whitmer addressed the controversy, saying, “Over 25 years in public service, I would never do something to denigrate someone’s faith.” She added, “I’ve used my platform to stand up for people’s right to hold and practice their personal religious beliefs.”
The video, which was meant to highlight the significance of the CHIPS Act to Michigan’s economy, was widely criticized after viewers interpreted the act of offering the chip as mimicking the Christian sacrament of communion. Whitmer acknowledged the misunderstanding, noting that her team had reached out to the Michigan Catholic Conference to clarify the intent behind the video.
“What was supposed to be a video about the importance of the CHIPS Act to Michigan jobs has been construed as something it was never intended to be, and I apologize for that,” Whitmer said.
The CHIPS Act, which aims to boost the domestic production of semiconductors, is seen as crucial for job creation in Michigan, particularly in the auto industry. However, the controversy over the Doritos video has momentarily overshadowed that message.
The governor’s office has not provided further comment.
