Jessica Tarlov Mocks GOP Convention Over Hasan Piker Image
Key Takeaways
- •The convention displayed an underwear-clad image of Hasan Piker on its arena jumbotron on two consecutive nights.
- •The image first appeared in a montage targeting the political left before Ken Paxton’s appearance.
- •Jessica Tarlov mocked the convention’s attendees and the image’s use during Friday’s episode of The Five.
- •Piker said the display undermined the convention’s criticisms by making them seem silly rather than damaging his movement.
- •Several users on X responded critically or sarcastically to the discussion.
Fox News liberal commentator Jessica Tarlov mocked MAGA supporters after an image of left-wing streamer Hasan Piker appeared twice on the Republican midterm convention’s arena jumbotron. Mediaite reported that Tarlov described the scene as “a bunch of betas standing around looking at a half-naked socialist.”
The image, taken from Piker’s Instagram, showed him posing for a mirror selfie in his underwear. It appeared on Wednesday as part of a video montage targeting the political left, immediately before Texas Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. The image was shown again on the convention’s second night, Thursday, before appearances by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Donald Trump Jr.
Tarlov made the remarks during Friday’s episode of The Five, after co-host Jesse Watters discussed attendance at the Republican National Convention. Watters said, “There was some concern, Jessica, even among Republicans, that they weren’t gonna be able to pull the convention off.”
“But it does seem they did a pretty good job,” Watters added.
“Yeah, well, they got all the best photos of Hasan Piker in a Speedo so — ” Tarlov replied, prompting laughter from her co-hosts.
“I missed that,” Watters said.
“You missed the banana hammock situation?” Tarlov asked.
“I missed that,” Watters repeated between laughs.
“But they used it both nights,” Tarlov said.
“Nope, I didn’t catch it,” Watters responded.
Tarlov then suggested that Watters may have missed a notable part of the convention.
“That’s how ripped he is, for a bunch of betas standing around looking at a half-naked socialist,” she said.
Mediaite also reported that Piker addressed the convention’s use of the image during his stream.
“It doesn’t make any sense, ’cause like that doesn’t make us look bad, that doesn’t make the movement look bad. It kinda makes their criticisms look silly, because they’re like, ‘This is the guy.’ Like, ‘This is the … Islamic terrorist, by the way. Look at how hot he looks.'”
Responses on X included “The sheer lack of self-awareness on that panel is actually impressive at this point” and “Peanut butter and jealous I think he was.” A separate X user also commented on the discussion: https://x.com/AlisonF41336845/status/2098544778531017107
Original report: https://www.alternet.org/rnc-convention-hasan-piker/
