Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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After getting bullied by an anti-abortion congressman, Texas teen activist Olivia Julianna is exacting revenge by raising more than $300,000 for abortion funds as of Wednesday afternoon.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, sparked the controversy during a conservative conference last weekend, during which he called pro-choice protesters overweight and “just disgusting.” He added that women who support abortion access are too ugly to impregnate.
Julianna, the political strategy specialist with Gen-Z for Change, replied to him on social media. Gaetz sent a mean tweet about Julianna before she flipped the script and inspired a deluge of abortion fund donations.
Starting with a tweet Sunday, Julianna responded to the congressman’s recent misogynistic comments about abortion rights activists.
We’re thankful for you. Are you thankful for us?
We feel thankful for our staff and for the privilege of fulfilling our mission to be an unparalleled source of information and insight in Dallas. We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community.
Help us continue giving back to Dallas.
“Its [sic] come to my attention that Matt Gaetz – alleged pedophile- has said that it’s always the ‘odious.. 5’2 350 pound’ women that ‘nobody wants to impregnate’ who rally for abortion,” she wrote. “I’m actually 5’11. 6’4 in heels. I wear them so the small men like you are reminded of your place.”
Its come to my attention that Matt Gaetz – alleged pedophile- has said that it’s always the “odious.. 5’2 350 pound” women that “nobody wants to impregnate” who rally for abortion.
— Olivia Julianna 🗳 (@0liviajulianna) July 24, 2022
I’m actually 5’11. 6’4 in heels. I wear them so the small men like you are reminded of your place
(Gaetz is under investigation over several allegations, including that he had sex with a 17-year-old, paid for sex and participated in sex trafficking, which he’s denied, according to Insider.)
From there, Gaetz reposted a Newsmax tweet stating that his recent remarks would “raise [the] dander” of political foes. The congressman’s tweet included a photo of Julianna, along with the caption: “Dander raised…”
Julianna accused Gaetz of body-shaming her and again highlighted allegations that he’d had sex with a minor.
“Am I not a little too old for you Matt?” she shot back in a tweet. “I know you have a thing for targeting teenagers but 19 is on the cusp don’t you think?”
Am I not a little too old for you Matt? I know you have a thing for targeting teenagers but 19 is on the cusp don’t you think? https://t.co/kmScakMjpz
— Olivia Julianna 🗳 (@0liviajulianna) July 25, 2022
The Observer was unable to reach Gaetz’ office by publication time. But in response to the fundraiser, a Gaetz spokesperson told the Houston Chronicle that “America is now a pro-life nation. No amount of solicitations will change that.”
The spokesperson added that the congressman “never mentioned the adult’s weight. Leftist media did.”
On Tuesday, Julianna tweeted out a thank you card featuring a photo of Gaetz. She wrote that his attacks on her backfired by helping to raise $50,000 within the span of a day.
Well @mattgaetz, I have to hand it to you. I didn’t think you cared about us abortion rights activists, but your spotlight on me has helped raise $50K for abortion funds in the last 24 hours! So I made you a special thank you card â¤ï¸
— Olivia Julianna 🗳 (@0liviajulianna) July 26, 2022
It almost feels like #MattGaetzIsProAbortion pic.twitter.com/sCxGVT4vzz
Julianna has previously made headlines over her online activism. Last year, she launched a viral TikTok challenge to overwhelm an anti-abortion whistleblower website, where people could submit tips ratting out those they believed had broken Texas’ abortion law.
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