Governor of West Virginia Tells Bette Midler to “Kiss Her Hiney” in Bizarre State of the State Address

The governor of West Virginia, Jim Justice, caused a stir during his State of the State address when he lifted up his dog, Babydog, and told actress Bette Midler to “kiss her hiney!” The bizarre scene unfolded as Justice took aim at his critics, including Midler, who had previously made disparaging remarks about the state and its people.

Midler responded to Justice’s stunt with a tweet suggesting that a dog’s rear end would make a better governor than him. The actress had criticized West Virginia and its Democratic senator Joe Manchin for their stance on President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan.

Justice, a 70-year-old Republican, didn’t hold back in his speech, defending his state and its people against detractors. He playfully swung Babydog’s backside towards the cameras as he delivered his message to Midler, prompting laughter and applause from the audience.

Midler later shared a chart on Twitter highlighting West Virginia’s rankings in key areas such as health and education, implying that the state was lacking in these areas under Justice’s leadership. She continued to mock the governor on social media, retweeting posts that poked fun at the unusual moment during the address.

The exchange between Justice and Midler has sparked a debate online, with supporters and critics weighing in on the controversy. Despite the playful nature of the incident, it has brought attention to the ongoing tensions between politicians and celebrities in the current political climate.