The Michael Eric Dyson "we look good together" texts
After clashing with Vanderbilt professor Michael Eric Dyson on a CNN panel on August 15, 2024, Rep. Nancy Mace used a House Oversight Committee hearing on September 19, 2024 to enter into the official congressional record a screenshot of a text she said Dyson sent her: "Shh don't tell anybody. We look good together," with a kissy emoji. Dyson denied hitting on her, said it was a joke, and called Mace "a bigot and racist."
In the late summer of 2024, a televised argument between Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and the Vanderbilt professor and author Michael Eric Dyson turned, a month later, into a moment on the floor of a House Oversight Committee hearing. Mace read into the official congressional record a screenshot of a private text she said Dyson sent her, and a public dispute over what the message meant followed. Both sides are documented here, in their own words.
August 15, 2024. Mace and Dyson appeared together on a CNN panel. Mace mispronounced Vice President Kamala Harris's first name, and Dyson said on air that it reflected a "history and legacy of White disregard for the humanity of Black people." The exchange was tense and widely shared.
September 19, 2024. During a House Oversight Committee hearing, Mace asked to enter the text into the record:
"I would like to also enter into the record a screenshot of a text message I received from the esteemed professor from Vanderbilt, Michael Eric Dyson."
By her account, after calling her racist on CNN, Dyson had texted her, "Shh don't tell anybody. We look good together," along with a kissy emoji, and had complimented her on her looks. She posted the screenshots on X, and the moment went viral.
Forbes Breaking News coverage of the September 19, 2024 House Oversight hearing.
Dyson's response. Dyson rejected her account. In a public statement he wrote: "The ridiculous lies told by Nancy Mace in the effort to smear my name because of her anger at being checked for her insensitive disregard for @VP. I had no intent with her to do anything but be nice. And her white women's tears and mendacity are all in the service of lies and distortions. I was wrong about one thing: she IS a bigot and racist." In a video response he denied flirting ("There's no hitting on you"), said the "we look good together" line was about the two of them being "bi-polar opposites" rather than a come-on, and said the kissy emoji had been paired with a laughing emoji to signal he was joking.
The House Oversight Committee's hearings concern federal oversight. The exchange above is what Mace chose to place on its official record. In her own words and his, readers can judge.
Sources
- Rep. Nancy Mace, "In the News" (mace.house.gov)
- Forbes Breaking News, the September 19, 2024 hearing (YouTube)
- Sky News Australia, "Congresswoman exposes CNN commentator's text messages" (YouTube)
- Fox News, Dyson calls Mace a "bigot" after she releases "flirty" texts
- Mediaite, Mace reveals "flirty DMs" after the CNN clash
- NewsOne, Dyson denies "hitting on" Mace
- OutKick, Mace tweets the alleged private messages
On the Record
Remember when Nancy Mace read a CNN guest's "kissy emoji" text into the congressional record?
A look back. On September 19, 2024, Rep. Nancy Mace used part of a House Oversight Committee hearing to enter into the official record a screenshot of a text she said Vanderbilt professor Michael Eric Dyson sent her after they clashed on CNN: "Shh don't tell anybody. We look good together," with a kissy emoji. Dyson denied hitting on her, said it was a joke, and called Mace "a bigot and racist." The clip is circulating again. In her own words and his, readers can judge.