Also read Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll Accused of Fling With Top Aide and Black Lesbians Are So Pissed At Jennifer Carroll Right Now.
In one of the least predictable sagas of this summer of face-eating and Marlins-hating, conservative Gov. Jennifer Carroll was accused of getting caught in a lesbian affair with her top aide. Being a member of Rick Scott's cabinet, Carroll responded in the worst way possible: By insulting all black lesbians everywhere.
After more than a week of pressure and hundreds of online signatures, Carroll finally apologized last night, calling her comments "wrong and inexcusable."
Carroll ignited a firestorm on July 17 when she defended herself from the accusations by saying, "Usually black women who look like me don't engage in relationships like that."
In response, dozens of black women who do engage in "relationships like that" began inundating Carroll's Facebook page. Equality Florida soon launched an online drive to get an apology from the state's second-in-command.
A week and a half later, she's decided to clear the air with this statement:
"It is wrong and inexcusable to make a comment that hurts people, and that was not my intention. As a Christian, my faith guides me to love and respect all people. The false charges that have been lodged against me are no excuse for what I have said that may have been hurtful to members of your organization and to other Floridians. Please know that I am committed to treating every person with the utmost courtesy, respect and dignity and I hope you will accept my heartfelt apology.''Equality Florida says it's accepted the apology, noting that "apologies by elected leaders for public mistakes are rare."
As for the lesbian affair accusations, they're still unfounded. Carroll's accuser, a 51-year-old fired staffer named Carletha Cole, faces felony charges for allegedly taping conversations with Carroll without her consent.
Cole said in related court documents that she'd caught Carroll and another aide, Beatriz "Bibi" Ramos, in a compromising sexual position.
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