Republican lawmaker branded ‘barber’ for wearing skintight pink bodysuit and tutu to raise money for cancer research, saying ‘I’d wear that costume again in a heartbeat’

A Mississippi state senator has been dubbed a “groomer” after a resurfaced photo shows him wearing a pink onesie at a 2020 cancer fundraiser.

Senator Jeremy England – a married man with two children – has meanwhile responded to the criticism, revealing that the costume was intentionally “embarrassing” and was intended not only for Halloween but to raise money for breast cancer research.

The event is part of the aptly named Real Men Wear Pink breast cancer awareness programme, and according to England it was held to raise money “for a good cause” – and not to seduce children as some have claimed.

The Republican was condemned for wearing a tutu and matching pink leotard in the snaps circulating, adding he took part in the program to appease his grandmother, who survived breast cancer.

The statement came after a onslaught of Conservatives took to social media to falsely accuse the 40-year-old of promoting pedophilia – amid an increasingly divisive GOP primary with England backing the incumbent.

Senator Jeremy England, 40, has been dubbed a “groomer” after a resurfaced photo shows him wearing a pink onesie at a 2020 breast cancer fundraiser

The Republican lawmaker, a married man with two children, has since dismissed criticism leveled by fellow Republicans during a particularly controversial GOP election, claiming he was promoting pedophilia by wearing the all-pink costume

It began on Tuesday when a person who supported one of the opponents of incumbent Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann’s reelection re-election posted the now-deleted image of tutus-clad England – along with the trenchant caption. The latest victim of the term “groomer” has become a smear that claims anyone who ignores gender norms, especially when dealing with children, is encouraging paedophilia

In statements to the press and on social media, he dismissed the claims of a “carer” and said he would “put that costume back on immediately to raise money for breast cancer awareness.”

He also claimed the backlash only began after an ad aired on local television Tuesday, expressing his support for Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann’s re-election.

Shortly after the broadcast, he received a text message from Senator Melanie Sojourner, who is supporting Senator Chris McDaniel – both Republicans – in the lieutenant governor primary this August.

Shortly thereafter, a person supporting one of Hosemann’s opponents posted the now-deleted image of the tutus-clad England on Twitter – along with the pointed caption: “Hosemann and his groomer maniacs.”

The term – a catchphrase used by a host of left-leaning figures in recent months – has become a smear claiming that anyone who ignores gender norms, particularly when dealing with children, is promoting pedophilia.

However, those in positions of power are also frequent victims of the description, with England – who wears the skintight pink bodysuit in the footage that has resurfaced – being the last to be harshly criticized.

“I think that’s one of the worst, dirtiest forms of politics – and that’s where we are in this race now,” England told The Associated Press.

“Groomer” is commonly used to describe how sex offenders contact their victims.

The word has become pervasive in American politics as certain conservatives seek to equate certain educational materials with pornography or pedophilia.

Hosemann will face two challengers in the August 8 primary. State Senator Chris McDaniel has contested two unsuccessful U.S. Senate races in the past decade, including a bitter race against longtime incumbent Thad Cochran in 2014.

Tiffany Longino is an educator who spends little on her first run for public office. If no one wins the majority, there will be a runoff on August 29th.

England reported the incident on Facebook and resumed its fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. As of Saturday, he had raised about $5,600

In a new TV ad by Hosemann, England says he supported McDaniel for Senate in 2014 but now believes it was a mistake and is endorsing Hosemann for a second term as Lieutenant Governor.

England said that shortly after the ad began airing, he received a text message from State Senator Melanie Sojourner, who publicly supports McDaniel. England said there were no words in the message – just a photo of England in a tutu.

“It was obvious she was sending that to me as a threat,” England said.

England replied to Sojourner with a “HaHa” in the picture, writing that he wore the costume in his neighborhood to raise money for breast cancer research as part of the American Cancer Society’s “Real Men Wear Pink” initiative.

The next day, another McDaniel supporter posted a similar photo of England on Twitter, captioning it “groomer maniacs”. The tweet was deleted, but England saved a screenshot of it.

England reported the incident on Facebook and resumed its fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. As of Saturday, he had raised about $5,600.

In response to questions from the AP, Sojourner said the tone of the exchange between her and England “suggests no intention to threaten and/or bully Senator England”. She said he laughed and liked her messages.

“As the prankster of the Senate chamber, Sen. England’s newfound decency is both ironic and bizarre,” Sojourner said. ‘Senator. “England screams bad just to score political points for their boss, Delbert Hosemann.”

Sojourner said she doesn’t know if the person who called England a “groomer” is linked to the McDaniel campaign.

McDaniel said in a statement to the AP: “To be clear, I do not condone anti-England Senator nastiness, nor the toxicity that our modern political environment induces.”

During the 2014 US Senate campaign, some were McDaniel supporters enter a nursing home without permission and photographed Cochran’s wife, who suffered from dementia. Pictures of her briefly appeared online.

McDaniel said he had nothing to do with the incident. McDaniel refused to admit his loss in the GOP primary runoff after the Cochran campaign wooed black voters who normally vote in Democratic primaries.

Republican-led Mississippi is electing state officials this year, including a governor and lieutenant governor. Although candidates for the two posts run as candidates in some states, in Mississippi the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately.

The office of lieutenant governor is one of the most powerful positions in the Mississippi government. The person presides over the 52-seat state Senate, appoints the chairs of Senate committees, and has wide latitude in deciding which legislation survives or dies.

In the general election on November 7th, the Republican candidate for the office of lieutenant governor will face the Democrat D. Ryan Grover, who says he has not yet spent any money on his campaign.