Fox News Host Calls Pete Buttigieg A “Fagger”
Fox News anchor Rachel Campos-Duffy is facing scrutiny after appearing to use an anti-gay slur while discussing former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on air recently. The comment came during a segment focused on Buttigieg, specifically questioning his masculinity following an appearance on a popular podcast.
What Exactly Was Said?
The discussion kicked off referencing Buttigieg’s own words about Democrats sometimes being “finger waggers”. Campos-Duffy then commented on Buttigieg attempting to counter perceptions about his masculinity, saying, “He grew a beard and he hit the manosphere, the male podcast world.”
After playing a clip of Buttigieg talking about avoiding being an “asshole” while having moral conviction, Campos-Duffy seemed to stumble over her words. She asked, “Isn’t Pete the worst virtue-signalling winger fagger?” quickly correcting herself mid-word to say “wagger,” accompanied by a smirk, according to reports of the live broadcast.
More Than Just A ‘Slip’?
The moment didn’t go unnoticed online, sparking immediate discussion about whether it was an intentional slur targeting Buttigieg, one of America’s most prominent openly gay politicians. One user on X captured the sentiment, posting: “FREUDIAN SLIP?? Rachel Campos-Duffy (whom I love) did a segment on the Jesse Watters show today about the ‘finger wagging Democrats’ and then this happened!”
A spokesperson for Fox News told The Advocate that Campos-Duffy simply misspoke and highlighted that she corrected herself immediately on air.
FREUDIAN SLIP?? 😂😂😂
— Texas 🇺🇸 (@MustangMan_TX) April 25, 2025
Rachel Campos-Duffy (whom I love) did a segment on the Jesse Waters show today about the “finger wagging Democrats” and then this happened! 👇 pic.twitter.com/JuMMKOPf45
Attacks Broaden During Segment
The segment, which referenced Buttigieg’s lengthy interview on the comedy podcast Flagrant, also featured Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo. Arroyo joined in mocking Buttigieg, stating, “Mayor Pete is not exactly the one you send out to get the young bro crowd.” He then controversially added, “You may as well send Dylan Mulvaney doing a makeup class and hope you can get more guys.”
This comparison drew further criticism for invoking Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender actress and influencer often targeted by right-wing media, in a way seen as perpetuating transphobic ideas alongside the homophobic undertones of the segment. Campos-Duffy followed Arroyo by criticising Buttigieg’s appearance, remarking on his beard not changing perceptions.
Network Responds, Buttigieg Silent
While Fox News attributed the incident to simple misspeak, critics were not entirely convinced. Lis Smith, a strategist and adviser to Buttigieg, responded sharply on X, targeting Arroyo’s own presentation as a counterpoint to his comments on masculinity.
Buttigieg himself has not publicly commented on the remarks made during the Fox News segment. However, his supporters suggest the nature of the attacks indicates that his efforts to engage in conversations about masculinity, politics, and identity, as discussed on the Flagrant podcast, clearly struck a nerve. Was it just an unfortunate slip of the tongue on a live broadcast, or a revealing glimpse into deeper sentiments?
