Bette Midler has hit back at West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice after he concluded his state of the state address Thursday by lifting up his English Bulldog Babydog and showing off her butt to take a swipe at the actress.
‘They never believed in West Virginia. That we could do it. They told every bad joke in the world about us,’ the Republican governor said. ‘And so from that standpoint, Babydog tells Bette Midler and all those out there, “kiss her hiney.”
Midler had made disparaging comments about West Virginia following Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin’s refusal to support President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better bill.
On Friday, Midler responded by sharing a graphic of West Virginia’s rankings compared to other states in categories including health care, infrastructure and crime and corrections.
It showed West Virginia ranking 50th in infrastructure, 45th in education, and 48th in economy, while fairing better in areas including opportunity, crime and natural environment.
She wrote alongside it: ‘BTW, here are the state rankings of all the areas and agencies for which the so-called “Governor” of WVA, #JimJustice, is responsible. Judging from these rankings, I’d say his dog’s a** would make a better Governor than him!’
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice concluded his state of the state address Thursday by lifting up his English Bulldog Babydog and showing off her butt – sending a message to actress Bette Midler
Midler had made disparaging comments about West Virginia following Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin’s refusal to support President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better bill
After Justice’s display, Midler hit back pointing out West Virginia ranked 50th infrastructure and 47th in health care. I’d say his dog’s a** would make a better Governor than him!’ Midler wrote
The row began when Midler tweeted in December: ‘What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible. He sold us out.’
‘He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia. Poor, illiterate and strung out,’ the actress added.
Midler immediately received backlash for her stereotypical take.
She apologized later that day.
‘I apologize to the good people of WVA for my last outburst,’ Midler said.
Justice’s dog Babydog has become the de facto mascot of the state.
Over the summer, the governor used the one-year-old English Bulldog in advertisements to entice West Virginians to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
‘Do it for Babydog,’ the ads said. ‘Save a Life. Change Your Life.’
Justice told constituents at the time, ‘f you won’t do it for me, if you won’t do it for your family, you’ve got to get vaccinated for Babydog.’
‘She wants you vaccinated so badly,’ the Republican governor said.
Babydog was also a regular at West Virginia University football tailgates.
Before showing off the dog’s behind, Justice marveled, ‘But this has been the year of Babydog hadn’t it?’
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice holds up his dog Babydog as he comes to the end of his State of the State speech
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice ends his State of the State speech by standing up, thanking state workers and saying how much he loves the state
‘And so she’s gotta come on out here,’ he said. ‘Come on out here, Baby.’
Babydog was then paraded through the legislative assembly on a leash and handed over to the governor, who hoisted her up on the podium.
‘Absolutely too many people doubted us,’ Justice said.
On Friday, a Twitter account purporting to belong to West Virginia’s first dog said, ‘Big night last night with Dad.’
‘Always remember to turn the other cheek.’
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