Outspoken Trump supporters, Diamond and Silk, brought their fiery personalities to the House Judiciary Committee as they gave a passionate argument about Facebook censoring their content.
The social media personalities, whose real names are Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson, have been locked in a months-long inquiry as to why there was a drop in engagement on their Facebook page.
The women, who became popular because of their enthusiastic support of Trump during and after the election campaign, were outraged when Facebook finally informed them: “The Policy team has come to the conclusion that your content and your brand has been determined unsafe to the community.”
On Thursday, Hardaway and Richardson testified before the House Judiciary Committee, getting heated at one point when Rep. Hank Johnson questioned their argument and their motives.
The Georgia Democrat made it clear he was irritated that the committee was spending its time discussing the issue, and hearing the women, when there are more pressing matters of importance in the country – like investigating Russian collusion in the 2016 election and gun control, to name a few Democratic talking points.
He confronted the women on why they were “bashing Facebook” after making a “ton of money” on the platform, telling them condescendingly that they were being given a “tremendous platform with this hearing to make a ton of money when it’s over.”
Hardaway was not about to have the issue dismissed so lightly, declaring “Oh, you don’t have a right to silence my voice,” referring to Facebook’s practices.
“I’ve always heard that diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” Johnson interjected.
They are, and they’re hard too!” Hardaway exclaimed. “You’re not gonna brush us off and dismiss us like we don’t have merit here. These people censored us for no reason, they put limitations on our page for no reason and that was wrong.”
“But rather than diamonds, you’re seeking money with Facebook, isn’t that correct?,” Johnson asked.
“Well you know what? If Facebook is a platform for you to make money, then so be it,” Hardaway fired back. “Everybody else do it. And don’t make us feel guilty because we and other people that’s built their brand page want to make money. We spent plenty of money.”
Johnson again tried to make his own point, dismissing the women’s concerns over the general censorship of conservative thought.
“I’m just astounded that this committee would stoop to this level to be positioning you all to make more money,” he said.
The women got the last word, thanking the committee for hearing them out.
The full exchange can be viewed below:
Via BizPAC
