Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent figure in conservative politics, is no stranger to controversy. Her latest foray into the public eye involves the sale of t-shirts mocking mpox, a viral disease that has claimed lives across the United States. Despite the severity of the outbreak, which particularly affected the LGBTQ+ community, Greene capitalized on the crisis by selling these items on her official website.
The t-shirts, featuring the “three wise monkeys” motif, were a blatant attempt to downplay the seriousness of the disease. With the phrase “See no monkeypox, hear no monkeypox, speak no monkeypox” emblazoned underneath the images, Greene’s merchandise trivialized the suffering of thousands, including the 58 who lost their lives to the disease during the 2022-2023 outbreak. It is a stark reminder of how public figures can influence perceptions and spread misinformation, often with dire consequences.
Greene’s state, Georgia, was one of the hardest hit by mpox, ranking fifth in the number of infections. Yet, her response was to mock the disease, dismissing it as a scam similar to Covid-19. Such rhetoric not only undermines public health efforts but also stigmatizes the communities most affected, particularly gay and bisexual men.
Her continued sale of merchandise promoting divisive and harmful messages—such as “Proud Christian Nationalist” and “Defund The FBI”—further illustrates her disregard for the impact of her words and actions on vulnerable populations. Greene’s actions serve as a stark example of how political figures can exploit public health crises for personal gain, all while sowing division and mistrust.
