Wednesday 6 July 2022 08:21 PM Democrat Rhode Island state senator, 28, DEFENDS video of her twerking upside ... trends now

A Rhode Island state senator who was slammed over a TikTok campaign clip of herself twerking defended the controversial video by accusing her critics of 'attacking a young, energetic person who is filled with joy.'

The video shows Democrat Tiara Mack, 28, twerking upside on a beach in a very revealing bikini and instructing constituents: 'Vote Senator Mack.'

Mack defended the post Tuesday saying those who are outraged by it are hateful and 'don’t care about policy.'

When probed about the video, Governor Dan McKee claimed he was not privy to the clip and didn't even know what twerking was.

Mack entered the Rhode Island legislature in January 2021 - the first black openly gay woman to do so, and set tongues wagging with her July 4 video, which was filmed on one of her adopted home state's famed beaches.

Mack set tongues wagging with her July 4 video, which was filmed on one of her adopted home state's famed beaches. 

However, the legislator claims she is not concerned the video will hinder her chances at re-election.

These are folks who don’t care about policy,' she told ABC 6 News. 'They care about attacking a young, energetic person who is filled with joy, and undeterred by their hate.'

'They care about attacking a young, energetic person who is filled with joy, and undeterred by their hate.'

She added: 'I was elected saying the "F-word" as an unapologetically queer woman. This is the same person that was elected in 2020 who is going to lead with empathy, compassion, love, and silliness.'

When asked on Tuesday afternoon about the video, Governor McKee was perplexed.

'I have not seen it. What was the term you used? Twerking? I don't even know what that means,' he told reporters. 

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The video was shared with more than 7,000 TikTok followers on her campaign account - @mackdistrict6 - and sparked a strong reaction, with 4,220 likes in the first 24 hours.

She captured the clip: 'A promised senator thirst trap at Block Island.'

Mack added a devil emoji, and joked: 'How many nip slips am I allowed to get on the 4th of July?'

A friend off-camera replied: 'You already have three.'

But many were unimpressed with the stunt. 

One social media user, Sherry Mann, tweeted: 'Vote Tierra (sic) Mack, or what, she'll fall on them. How embarrassing to have anyone like this as a state senator. What kind of behavior is this to stick your (big) ass in the air and twerk. What's this kind of mentality, the kind I don't want in government. Seriously.'

'I'm not a conservative and I'm disappointed,' said another. 

'Where do we draw the line on the behavior of public figures? I like when WE have a standard of decorum that we want OUR people to rise to. To be UNCOMMON to be admired! This ain't it.'

Another said: 'We all need our representatives to be someone we are proud to support. Both parties. Deeply saddened that this woman is a senator in any state. 

'If showing your ass was the message you intended, you succeeded. Parents take notes, is this something to aspire to.'

Another added: 'Do you think this is professional behavior, Tiara?' 

Several hours later, as the outcry grew, she tweeted: 'Damn. Twerking upside down really makes the conservative, unhinged internet accounts pop off on a Monday.'

Tucker Carlson, the Fox News host, was among those outraged by the clip.

He mockingly described her as 'the next rising star of the Democrat party,' and added: 'Why isn't she Secretary of State? Why aren't they pushing her for president?'

Mack herself then responded to some of the criticism in her TikTok videos.