Fox News seems to have found the latest target in their ongoing culture war— Kermit the Frog.
Kermit delivered a commencement speech at the University of Maryland on Thursday in honor of his creator and Maryland alum Jim Henson.
During the speech, the muppet encouraged the graduating class to “consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side by side” rather than “jumping over someone to get what you want” because “life is better when we leap together.”
While that message was well received by the graduating class, it did not go over well with Riley Gaines, Fox News contributor, podcast host and the most famous fifth place finisher in history.
“Imagine being a 22-year-old student, who is graduating with a degree in aerospace engineering, and a frog from The Muppets is telling you to stay connected with your people,” Gaines told host Jason Chaffetz during an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity Special on Friday, according to a clip from the Daily Beast. “We have students who are drowning in debt, who are struggling to find jobs, and universities are handing the mic to puppets.”
“You can’t make this up. Instead of honoring entrepreneurs or veterans or innovators, they picked Kermit the Frog,” she added. “It’s unserious, it’s out of touch, and frankly, it’s insulting.”
Gaines is a former competitive swimmer who became famous after tying for fifth place in the 200-yard NCAA freestyle championship with transgender University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas in 2022. She has since become an anti-trans activist popular on the right.
She told Chaffetz on Friday that Kermit speaking at University of Maryland’s graduation is the latest example of ‘wokeness’ that has taken over college campuses.
“I see this as the same institutions who have been pushing political agendas and cancel culture now want to use a puppet to inspire students,” Gaines said.
