Kamala Harris Mocked Over BET Awards Video: 'Cringe'

Kamala Harris is pictured on June 15, 2024 in Lucerne, Switzerland. The vice president's recent video, which was aired during Sunday's BET Awards, has been criticized on social media.

Elon Musk has criticized a video that Vice President Kamala Harris appeared in during Sunday's BET Awards, in which she referenced Kendrick Lamar and Drake's recent rap feud.

In a pre-recorded clip alongside the Empire star Taraji P. Henson, who served as the awards show's host, Harris was seen discussing political issues on a video call in the run-up to November's presidential election.

After bringing up the fact that she and Henson are graduates of Howard University, Harris asked Henson what was on her mind, prompting the actress to sigh: "Oh, Madam VP Harris, I'm worried about the election.

"Women's reproductive rights are on the line. Our Supreme Court is on the line. Our basic freedoms are being tested, Madam VP. I know you've been traveling across the country, what are you hearing?"

"Yeah, girl I'm out here in these streets," Harris responded. "And let me tell you, you're right, Taraji. There is so much at stake in this moment. The majority of us believe in freedom and equality. But these extremists, as they say—they 'not like us.'"

The last line was a reference to Lamar's diss track "They Not Like Us," which capped a heated feud between the rapper and his rival Drake. The track quickly became a chart-topping hit for Lamar, who was largely seen as having emerged the victor following the high-profile war of words.

Harris' BET Awards clip was posted on X, formerly Twitter, by journalist Alex Berenson, who quoted some of the vice president's statement, before opining: "This is so bad...."

Agreeing with the assessment, Musk, who purchased X back in 2022, responded: "Toenail curling level of cringe."

While some criticized the clip, others defended it, with one X user writing: "It's cringy but I get it. I like that Kamala was a part. There's a lot at stake in November. Biden needs the Black vote."

Newsweek has contacted representatives of Harris via email for comment.

Elsewhere in the clip, Harris said: "There's a full-on attack on our fundamental freedoms. The freedom to vote, the freedom to love who you love, the freedom to be safe from gun violence, the freedom for a woman to make decisions about her own body and not having her government tell her what to do."

She also accused Republicans of wanting to "turn back the clock on our hard-fought progress," before calling on people to register to vote.

The video comes as a new poll has found Harris is the top choice to replace President Joe Biden should he abandon his reelection campaign.

Biden's recent shaky debate performance has led some Democrats to consider whether he should be replaced on the ballot before facing off against Republican rival Donald Trump in November.

The Biden campaign has said the president is not dropping out. However, if he did, Harris, his vice president and running mate, would most likely join other top Democrats looking to replace him at the top of the ticket.

A Data for Progress flash poll, conducted on Friday, found Harris was the most popular choice to replace Biden. The poll surveyed 1,011 U.S. likely voters, including 387 Democratic likely voters, and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

Asked who should be picked if the Democratic Party holds a convention among party members to choose a replacement for Biden, 39 percent of Democrat respondents chose Harris.

California Governor Gavin Newsom was the second most popular option, with 18 percent of Democrats picking him as their choice to replace the incumbent.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg got 10 percent of the vote, Senator Cory Booker received 7 percent and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer got 6 percent. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro each garnered only 2 percent.

Another 6 percent said their choice would be someone not on the list, while 9 percent said they were not sure.

Start your unlimited Newsweek trial