MAGA Meltdown Over Pink J.Crew Men's Sweater
Conservative users on X (formerly Twitter) erupted after Juanita Broaddrick — a former nurse and author who has alleged that former President Bill Clinton sexually assaulted her in the 1970s, an allegation he denies — shared a photo of a pink men’s sweater from J.Crew.
“Are you kidding me?? Men, would you wear this $168 sweater?” Broaddrick asked in her post.
The wool pullover, listed on J.Crew’s website as “a cold-weather classic,” features a patterned neckline the brand says was inspired by the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Its bubblegum-pink color, however, drew sharp criticism after Broaddrick’s post circulated.
Replies ranged from mocking to outraged. One user wrote, “That’s a woman’s sweater. No self-respecting man would wear that,” while another charged that brands are “emasculating men in America.” Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett amplified Broaddrick’s post and dismissed the sweater as “something a Sorority girl would wear in the 80’s.”
Other commentators joked that prominent Democrats — including Rep. Eric Swalwell and California Gov. Gavin Newsom — would be the ones to wear the garment. Some accounts went further, photoshopping Newsom’s face onto the model or suggesting the item was part of a fictional “Gavin Newsom collection.”
Influencer David Freeman, who posts as the persona Gunther Eagleman, targeted Swalwell directly with sarcastic replies to Broaddrick’s post. J.Crew did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Daily Beast also reached out to the offices of Newsom and Swalwell.
Why a Sweater Became a Flashpoint
Observers say the intense reaction to a single pink sweater reflects a broader conservative backlash against cultural shifts in gender norms. Commenters and some online communities — including podcasts in the so-called “manosphere” and influencers promoting a “tradwife” lifestyle — have amplified concerns about perceived departures from traditional masculinity.
As one X user put it bluntly: “This isn’t for men to buy. Women buy this for their husband and tell him he looks so good in it. No man buys or wears this.” Whether seen as a fashion choice or a cultural provocation, the episode highlights how even small retail decisions can spark national debate in a polarized media environment.
