![\"LOS](\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/GettyImages-856412916_2ad164-e1725545737114.jpg?resize=384%2C216\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n
Sen. JD Vance<\/strong>, who has been criticized on several occasions for comments demeaning women since becoming former President Donald J. Trump<\/strong>\u2019s running mate in July, found himself in controversy again. This time, he used a viral clip of a beauty pageant contestant\u2019s fumbling response to attack Vice President Kamala Harris<\/strong>, making women the butt of his \u201cjoke.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Miss South Carolina Teen USA Caite Upton<\/strong> was the target of constant mocking and bullying after her viral 2007 appearance as a pageant contestant, where she gave a stuttering answer to a question about why many Americans could not locate the United States on a map.<\/p>\n After Vance resurrected the clip on Aug. 29 with the caption<\/a>, \u201cI have gotten ahold of the full Kamala Harris CNN interview,\u201d Upton responded on Aug. 30, \u201cIt\u2019s a shame that 17 years later this is still being brought up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not too much else to say about it at this point. Regardless of political beliefs, one thing I do know is that social media and online bullying need to stop,\u201d she continued, before adding, \u201cFor anyone else going through something similar, please visit EndCyberbullying.org<\/a> and WhiteFlag<\/a> as resources.\u201d<\/p>\n BERMAN: Last night you posted a clip from Ms Teen US 2007 \u2014 Caitlin Upton. When you posted that, were you aware she thought about committing suicide for the attention that received?<\/p>\n JD VANCE: No, certainly not.<\/p>\n B: Would you like to apologize?<\/p>\n V: I’m not going to apologize pic.twitter.com\/tn7FYTS3v4<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 30, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Since Upton\u2019s statement, her X account has been deleted. Responses to her post included many critical comments from netizens pointing out what they said was her longtime support of Trump\u2014he owned the pageant from 1996 to 2015. A 2007 photo of Upton and other contestants posing with Trump and Donald Trump Jr.<\/strong> at a pageant party was widely circulated on X.<\/p>\n In a 2015 interview with New York Magazine<\/em><\/a>, Upton, who modeled after the pageant and competed on The Amazing Race<\/em> in 2010, said, \u201cI definitely went through a period where I was very, very depressed. But I never let anybody see that stuff, except for people I could trust. I had some very dark moments where I thought about committing suicide.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd somebody once put a letter in my parents\u2019 mailbox about how my body was going to be eaten alive by ants and burned in a freak fire. And then it said, in all caps, GO DIE CAITE UPTON, GO DIE FOR YOUR STUPIDITY,\u201d she added, noting that the harsh comments lasted \u201cevery single day for a good two years.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the outcry over the post, Vance has been unapologetic. After being informed of Upton\u2019s mental health challenges, he told CNN<\/a>\u2018s John Berman<\/strong>, \u201cPolitics has gotten way too lame, John, way too boring.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can have some fun while making an argument to the American people about improving their lives. I\u2019m not going to apologize for a joke,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cbut I wish the best for Caitlin and I hope she\u2019s doing well.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\n