Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman denies viewing pornography on flight after viral photos surface online
In a recent incident that has ignited a firestorm on social media, Democratic Representative Brad Sherman of California found himself at the center of controversy after photos surfaced showing him seemingly engrossed in explicit images on a tablet during a flight. The images, which went viral on X (formerly Twitter), depicted the 71-year-old congressman with his mouth agape while scrolling through what appeared to be photos of women in their underwear. The post quickly gained traction, racking up over 12.4 million views and prompting a flurry of reactions, including a pointed response from Donald Trump Jr., who simply remarked, “Yikes!!!!”
In the wake of the backlash, Sherman vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that the images were the result of X’s algorithm and not a deliberate choice on his part. A spokesperson for Sherman explained that the congressman was merely browsing his “For You” feed on X, a section that curates recommended content based on user behavior. Sherman elaborated, stating, “If you have to fly across the country, you look at a lot of stuff on your tablet.” He acknowledged that while he might glance at various posts, he did not consider the content to be pornography in the traditional sense, although he conceded that viewing such images in public might not be deemed appropriate. His comments have sparked further debate about the nature of social media algorithms and the content they promote.
The incident has not only drawn scrutiny from political opponents but has also opened the floodgates for broader discussions about social media usage among public figures. Republican Representative Nancy Mace chimed in, using the opportunity to defend herself against previous criticisms regarding her conduct in airports. This situation underscores the complexities of public perception in the digital age, where a single moment can lead to widespread condemnation or support, depending on the context and the individual’s political affiliations. As the story continues to unfold, it raises important questions about privacy, accountability, and the implications of technology in our daily lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCKYRGcZlEc
Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman
is firing back after photos went viral appearing to show him viewing explicit images on a tablet while aboard a flight, prompting swift online backlash.
Images
posted to X
Friday appeared to show the California congressman, 71, staring at a tablet with his mouth agape while scrolling through photos of women in their underwear.
“Why did California Congressman Brad Sherman feel it was appropriate to look at porn on his iPad during a flight today?” one X post said.
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The post had amassed 12.4 million views as of Saturday evening.
Sherman denied the allegations, and a spokesperson for the congressman told Fox News Digital the pictures appeared because of his algorithm on X, formerly Twitter.
“This was nothing more than scrolling through Twitter, and, unfortunately, Elon Musk has ruined the Twitter algorithm to give people content that they don’t ask for or subscribe to,” a spokesperson for Sherman told Fox News Digital in an email.
Sherman similarly told Punchbowl News the images appeared on his X feed under the “For You” section of X, a page that shows recommended content.
“This was
on Twitter
. These pictures came up on ‘For You’,” Sherman told Punchbowl News, adding he viewed a variety of posts during his cross-country flight.
“If you have to fly across the country, you look at a lot of stuff on your tablet,” he said.
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“If I see a picture of a woman, might I look at it longer than a sunset? Yeah.”
When asked whether he thought the content was appropriate to view on a plane, Sherman told Punchbowl News, “Is it pornography? I don’t think
Elon Musk
thinks so. Is it appropriate? No.”
The images quickly drew widespread reactions across social media.
Donald Trump Jr.
responded to the viral post with, “Yikes!!!!”
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Firing back at Donald Trump Jr., Sherman posted an edited version of the photo showing his iPad screen replaced with the words, “Release the Epstein files.”
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.
, also weighed in, writing, “I don’t want to hear a single peep from anyone in/around Congress, or the media, [about] how I stroll through an airport ever again.”
Mace recently demanded the resignation of Charleston Airport CEO Elliot Summey and threatened legal action after airport officials accused her of mistreating staff.
X did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
