The queen of bad political takes, Tomi Lahren, is ruffling feathers, however, this time, it's for reasons that go beyond her defense of President Trump's "shithole countries" comment.
This week, the Fox News commentator posted a video of herself lip-synching to the song "Bank Account" by Atlanta rapper 21 Savage, to her Instagram story.
NO NO NO NO pic.twitter.com/TeUwYrNIDJ— Ronak Kallianpur (@ronakkallianpur) January 12, 2018
The 25-year-old firebrand from Rapid City, S.D., has been quite a polarizing figure over the last few years, ever since she rose to prominence by slamming former President Barack Obama over his handling of the shooting at a military recruitment center in Chattanooga, Tenn. in July 2015. She's been highly critical of Democrats, liberals, Black Lives Matter, and, yes, hip-hop and R&B artists.
In January 2016, Lahren went after Beyonce [and by extension, her husband, Jay-z] for her performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, telling her through one of her videos, "You’re just like President Obama, Jada Pinkett Smith, Al Sharpton and so many others — just can’t let America heal, keep ripping off the historical Band-Aid. Why be a cultural leader when you can play the victim, right? [...] You'd rather perpetuate the great battle of the races,” Lahren ranted. “Your husband was a drug dealer. For 14 years, he sold crack cocaine. [...] Talk about protecting black neighborhoods? Start at home."
Lahren has a history of being disrespectful to the culture that created and sustained hip-hop, rap, and R&B. If she's so worried about glorifying people who once sold crack cocaine, I hate to break it to her, but 21 Savage was a dealer well before he was a successful rapper.
From Lahren's comments in support of abortion in early 2017 to her unwavering support for Donald Trump no matter what, this is just another crack (pardon the pun) in the foundation of Lahren's "conservative" principles. If anything, she gives off the impression that she doesn't have any principles. She constantly calls liberals and members of Black Lives Matter "snowflakes," yet couldn't answer questions regarding her position on abortion at a conservative conference in December.
It's different for Lahren. She's paid to be angry at everything. Her existence is defined by it. She contradicts herself at almost every turn. She has no problem burning bridges to elevate her own platform and then enjoying the product of the culture she's blasting. I'm all for individual liberty, but if Lahren wants to continue with her polarizing ways, she shouldn't get to listen to rap music, ever.
Siraj Hashmi is a commentary video editor and writer for the Washington Examiner.