California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing criticism from both the left and right over recent social media posts made by his press office. The posts, targeting Republican figures, have been described as utilizing “cheap” and potentially homophobic jokes, according to a report by The New York Times.

Controversial Social Media Tactics

Newsom’s X (formerly Twitter) account has responded to posts from GOP members with references to “Grindr,” a popular LGBTQ+ dating app. For example, when responding to Benny Johnson’s post regarding alleged fraud in California, the account wrote, “We got a call from Grindr after this and said your team was their biggest users. Congrats!”

This wasn’t an isolated incident. In January, the account responded to another post by Johnson, stating, “We’ll make sure Grindr servers are ready…” after Johnson announced plans to investigate fraud in California.

Criticism from LGBTQ+ Advocates

Jane Natoli, a vice president of the Equality California board, expressed her disappointment, stating that Newsom shouldn’t resort to “cheap homophobia jokes.” She noted that she and other members of the organization often react to the posts with “eye-roll emojis.”

Former Rep. Barney Frank, who came out as gay in the 1980s, also criticized the governor’s comments. “He should not have said that,” Frank told The New York Times. “It uses sexual orientation as an accusation, which is wrong.”

Media Outcry and Defense

The LGBTQ+ outlet, ‘Them,’ published an article last week titled “Gavin Newsom Is Being Weirdly Homophobic Yet Again.” The report highlighted Newsom’s attempt to mimic President Donald Trump’s social media style, while simultaneously employing what they described as “frankly, homophobic” sentiments.

A USA Today column also condemned Newsom’s office’s response, calling the jokes “sick” and urging the governor to “Get lost.”

Newsom's Office Responds

Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for Newsom, defended the posts, stating they were intended to “expose the putrid behavior from the right wing through ridicule and mocking.” Gardon explained that the posts aim to “hold up a mirror to the hypocrisy and derangement” of figures like Benny Johnson.

The governor’s office maintained that they are not engaging in the same behavior as their targets, but rather highlighting their hypocrisy. They did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment from Fox News Digital.

Further Criticism

Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department, criticized Newsom for using “homosexuality as a slur,” noting the irony given his history as mayor of San Francisco, a city known for its LGBTQ+ community.

Newsom, while serving as mayor of San Francisco in 2004, famously called for the city to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, bringing national attention to the issue.