Kamala Harris Campaign Rejected by ‘Hot Ones,’ Sparking Outcry Among Supporters
(Allison Joyce/AFP/Getty Images)
Supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris are still grappling with her defeat in the recent election, a disappointment made worse by reports that her campaign’s attempt to secure a spot on the popular YouTube show Hot Ones was turned down.
The show, known for featuring celebrities answering questions while eating increasingly spicy chicken wings, has become a cultural phenomenon. However, it has never hosted a political candidate in its nearly decade-long run. According to reports, Harris’ campaign approached Hot Ones as part of its outreach strategy, but it was declined due to the show’s avoidance of political figures.
The news sparked widespread reactions online, with Harris supporters airing their frustrations on social media. Author Ella Dawson tweeted on Bluesky, “Kamala Harris going on Hot Ones and/or Joe Rogan wouldn’t have changed the election results, but this still sucks a–.”
Adrian Carrasquillo, a political reporter, also shared his disappointment, writing, “Sad: Harris didn’t do Hot Ones because they didn’t want to get into politics, via Harris campaign leadership on @podsaveamerica.bsky.social.”
Trump had no problem getting on podcasts: www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2… whereas the vice president was deemed too political: www.thedailybeast.com/hot-ones-tur…
— Drew Harwell (@drewharwell.com) November 27, 2024 at 10:38 PM
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Washington Post tech reporter Drew Harwell contrasted Harris’ experience with Donald Trump’s media strategy, noting, “Trump had no problem getting on podcasts,” and linked to an article discussing the disparity. He added, “Whereas the vice president was deemed too political.”
The snub also led to deeper discussions about systemic biases. Sociology professor Jessica Calarco called the situation “infuriating” and criticized the perception of Harris as “not doing enough interviews” or appearing “regular” to voters. “This is particularly infuriating given how she got dragged for not doing enough interviews,” she wrote.
Calarco further explored the issue, speculating that racism and sexism may have played a role. “I’m guessing a lot of this is pure racism and sexism,” she stated. “But part of what’s going on here might also be that Republicans don’t seem ‘political’ because they’re read as anti-government, while Democrats, as the pro-government party, are read as inherently more ‘political,’ no matter what they say.”
The Daily Beast reported that Hot Ones has featured over 350 episodes with high-profile guests like Pharrell Williams, comedian Ali Wong, and Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, with each episode garnering millions of views on YouTube.
However, it has maintained a consistent policy of avoiding political candidates, even during heated election cycles. For Harris supporters, the rejection underscores the challenges she faced during her campaign, as well as the broader difficulties Democrats encounter in connecting with pop culture platforms.
