Megyn Kelly seemed to channel her Gretchen Wieners on Wednesday ― except instead of trying to make “fetch” happen, she tried to turn “Tampon Tim” into a trending term.
The appellation for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is meant to be an insulting reference to his decision last year to sign a bill requiring schools in the state to provide free menstrual products in all public school bathrooms.
The bill allows for the feminine hygiene products to be placed in boys’ bathrooms as well as girls’ ― something that conservatives are hoping they can weaponize against Walz, whom Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen as her running mate in the 2024 election.
On X, formerly Twitter, Kelly approvingly responded to a post that described “Tampon Tim” as “Kamala’s dead weight.”
“Tampon Tim is the name,” Kelly wrote to her 3-million-something followers. “That’s it.”
The original tweet also declared that “Biden was Obama’s dead weight” and “Kamala is Biden’s dead weight,” referring to Democratic presidential tickets that voters elected to the White House in 2008, 2012 and 2020.
If Kelly expected people to fall in line behind her and promote “Tampon Tim” as a mocking nickname for Walz, she was sorely mistaken.
Instead, many folks, including Dr. Jennifer Gunter, an OB-GYN in Canada, pointed out that the bill Walz signed is actually, well, good for people.
“Imagine being upset that someone didn’t want kids leaking menstrual blood onto their clothes,” Gunter wrote in response to Kelly’s tweet. “You are pro period poverty, which seems to me to be very anti Christian. Would Jesus have said, ‘Let them leak blood onto their clothes because they deserve it?’”
Imagine being upset that someone didn’t want kids leaking menstrual blood onto their clothes. You are pro period poverty, which seems to me to be very anti Christian. Would Jesus have said, “Let them leak blood onto their clothes because they deserve it?” https://t.co/jY1YqC4qNb
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) August 7, 2024
Others also piled on Kelly, and declared that “Tampon Tim” honestly sounds like more of a term of admiration than derision.
So you think children should be forced to menstruate without these products in school? What is wrong with you weirdos? Get a life
— Ryan Marino, MD (@RyanMarino) August 7, 2024
Tampon Tim sounds like Santa Claus but for periods. Like on the night before you start bleeding he visits your house and leaves baskets of menstrual products under your sink. We should sing carols about him
— Erin “Skeleton Factory” Ryan (@morninggloria) August 7, 2024
Does MAGA not understand #TamponTim isn’t an insult? When did a Man making sure young girls aren’t bleeding through their clothes at school become a problem? You meanhe doesn’t want them embarrassed & able to focus in class?
You clowns put them on your ears a few weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/3Tgx6ammgc
— Mrs G (@MrsEricaGarza) August 6, 2024
Ah yes, because wanting to provide school-aged girls with readily accessible menstrual products is so wrong 🙄
Remember when you were relevant? No, me either
— Ken Downey Jr. (@Ken_DowneyJr) August 7, 2024
Ain’t no way “Tampon Tim” is an insult, especially from the party who wore Kotex Overnights on their ears two weeks ago!
Providing free and accessible menstrual products should be the law of the land so, if this makes Walz a “danger”, then it’s time to get dangerous.
— Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) August 6, 2024
Do you really think providing school age girls with menstrual supplies is a negative? So if I’m following you on this you’re a yes to schools posting the Ten Commandments but a no on tampons. What’s your position on toilet paper? Okay for private schools, but kids in public…
— Neall (@nlltrt) August 7, 2024
Megan, apparently not remembering the embarrassing moments young girls have as they begin to have their periods and their world is not yet ready for them.
— Kevin Ward (@DogGoneSilly) August 7, 2024
Megyn never disappoints. She’s a piece of work.
A woman. A mother.
And she mocks #TimWalz for providing free sanitary products to poor girls who cannot afford them. Just despicable. The right is unwell. Unhinged. Mean. https://t.co/VrKIQSkYFp
— Sophia “childless chicks” Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) August 7, 2024
Trump grossly accused Megyn Kelly of having “blood coming out of her wherever”.
Tim Walz wants to make sure that doesn’t happen to anyone. #HarrisWalz2024— Shirley Kelly (@ShirleyKelly16) August 7, 2024
MAGA is referring to Walz as “Tampon Tim”
I mean, he’s definitely going to stop any chance of a red wave.
— C.W. (The Jedi Master DISSENTS) (@CWJediMaster) August 6, 2024
I had to check why Tampon Tim was trending, good lord MAGA are some seriously misogynistic weirdos.
Imagine thinking supplying feminine hygiene products to girls who need them is a bad thing.— Andrea R MD (@AndreaR9Md) August 6, 2024
Calling Walz “Tampon Tim” for putting free tampons in bathrooms for women is not the sick burn they think it is.
He’s a legend. He’s an icon. And he IS the moment. pic.twitter.com/Sc7oda2R8s
— A Jen, Duh (@hipchkk) August 6, 2024
Period poverty is a real thing – students miss school because of lack of access to menstrual products. As a former teacher, Walz understands how his impacts educational outcomes, just like he knows how hunger impacts learning. This makes me an even bigger fan of Tampon Tim.
— Bee Nguyen 🐝 (@BeeForGeorgia) August 6, 2024
