Herschel Walker nixes fundraiser with supporter who had swastika featured on Twitter profile: report
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- Herschel Walker canceled an event with a film producer who until recently had a swastika on her social media page, per the AJC.
- Walker's campaign said the event would not move forward at the home of Bettina Sofia Viviano-Langlais.
- The campaign initially said that the image was "clearly an anti-mandatory vaccination graphic."
Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker nixed a fundraiser with a conservative film producer who until recently featured an image of a swastika on her Twitter page, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Twitter profile of Bettina Sofia Viviano-Langlais had a group of syringes set into place to resemble a swastika, according to the AJC. After the piece was published, the symbol was reportedly removed from her Twitter page.
The event was called just off hours after the campaign argued that the symbol on the page was not a swastika, per the AJC. The symbol was "clearly an anti-mandatory vaccination graphic," Walker's campaign said at first, rejecting the notion that the former NFL star would condone such a message.
-Patricia Murphy (@politicalinsidr) October 13, 2021
-Patricia Murphy (@politicalinsidr) October 13, 2021
Walker's campaign released a stronger statement later, rebuking the image and saying the planned event had been scrapped.
"Despite the fact that the apparent intent behind the graphic was to condemn government vaccine mandates," the campaign said, "the symbol used is very offensive and does not reflect the values of Herschel Walker or his campaign."
Walker is currently running in the GOP Senate primary to face Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock next year in what is expected to be one of the marquee races in the country.
"The previously scheduled event has been called off. Herschel is a strong friend of Israel and the Jewish community and opposes hatred and bigotry of all forms," Walker spokeswoman Mallory Blount told Insider in a statement. "Despite the fact that the apparent intent behind the graphic was to condemn government vaccine mandates, the symbol used is very offensive and does not reflect the values of Herschel Walker or his campaign."
Viviano-Langlais didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
This post has been updated.
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