The controversial tweet included a clip from the 1980 movie “Gloria,” featuring actress Gena Rowlands with a handgun in each hand pacing forward a few steps. “Us when we see transphobes,” Berry wrote in the post sharing the image.
By Stacey Barchenger || TheArizona Republic
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ spokesperson has resigned amid controversy over a social media post invoking gun violence posted hours after the deadly shooting at a Nashville school on Monday.
The Governor’s Office confirmed Wednesday that Press Secretary Josselyn Berry resigned from her job and Hobbs accepted the resignation. Hobbs’ communication director Murphy Hebert said later that the governor asked Berry to resign.
“The governor does not condone violence in any form,” a statement from Hobbs’ office reads. “This administration holds mutual respect at the forefront of how we engage with one another. The post by the press secretary is not reflective of the values of the administration.”
Berry’s post on Twitter late Monday caused uproar online, particularly among conservatives who dubbed it tone deaf, offensive and contrary to criticism from progressives that Republicans are doing too little about gun violence.
The controversial tweet included a clip from the 1980 movie “Gloria,” featuring actress Gena Rowlands with a handgun in each hand pacing forward a few steps. “Us when we see transphobes,” Berry wrote in the post sharing the image.
Berry posted earlier in the day Monday about transgender rights and progressive politics, saying if you “work in the progressive community and are transphobic, you’re not progressive.” It is unclear what she was referring to.
“Not sure these transphobic-fromthe- left posers know who they’re messing with,” another Twitter user replied, prompting Berry’s tweet referencing people who fear or discriminate against the transgender community, and adding the image of the armed actress.
Berry joined the Hobbs administration after the November election, prior to which she worked as a spokesperson for the Arizona Democratic Party.
More:
