Miss USA 'Clarifies' Her Health Care Response And People Are Calling BS
Update Wednesday May 17:
On Tuesday Kara McCullough, Miss USA 2017, spoke with Good Morning America and clarified her remarks regarding affordable health care.
In the interview, McCullough said she hopes health care can soon be a right for everyone.
"I am privileged to have health care and I do believe that it should be a right," she told GMA. "I hope and pray moving forward that health care is a right for all worldwide."
McCullough's new response had some of her original fans wondering if she's caving in to social media backlash for appeal
Previous Monday May 15:
On Sunday night, 25-year-old Kara McCullough – Miss Washington, D.C. – was crowned Miss USA 2017
This marks the second year in a row that we're seeing some #BlackGirlMagic happening on stage at Miss USA. In 2016, Deshauna Barber — also from Washington, D.C. — took home the crown.
However, McCullough's short answer calling health care a privilege raised a few eyebrows
When asked if affordable health care is a privilege or a right, McCullough took a surprising stand and called it a privilege.
"As a government employee, I’m granted health care and I see firsthand that for one to have health care, you need to have jobs," the scientist said.
This answer comes at a pivotal moment as the GOP health care plan to repeal and replace Obamacare was recently passed by Congress.
Because many people feel health care should be given to all Americans, viewers were extremely disappointed by her answer
Later on, the final three contestants were asked about feminism and if they identify as feminists
“I don’t want to call myself a feminist,” McCullough said. “Women, we are just as equal as men, especially in the workplace.”
McCullough's decision to call herself an 'equalist' as opposed to a feminist also resulted in much backlash
Furthermore, many rallied behind Miss New Jersey Chhavi Verg for standing up for feminism and not shying away from the question
Although many were divided over the contestants' answers, almost everyone was pleased by the diversity seen in the finalists of the competition
