Fox Declares War on Kermit the Frog

5th Place Swimmer Riley Gaines Desperately Seeking Relevance

The legendary Jim Henson, who attended the University of Maryland, created the lovable Muppet character Kermit the Frog in 1955 when he was just 18 years old working at a local radio station. The iconic character ultimately became famous around the world, played by Henson on the Muppet Show and Sesame Street until his premature death in 1990. While PBS is under attack from the Trump Administration, Kermit was invited to give the commencement address at Maryland.

Kermit thrilled the students who enthusiastically applauded the speech. He gave an uplifting message to the students and paid tribute to Henson (“He had a hand in everything I did”) and his wife Jane who died of cancer and also attended the school. Kermit ended the speech leading the graduates singing, ‘Rainbow Connection.’

Enter Fox News, and bitter former Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who has desperately been seeking some kind of traction and relevance as a MAGA influencer by seeking to push culture war hot buttons in a low-brow, ham-fisted way since her 5th place finish at the 2022 NCAA Championships.

Gaines was invited on Sean Hannity’s primetime show on Fox to vent fake outrage at Kermit. This is what she had to say:

“Imagine being a 22 year old student who is graduating with a degree in aerospace engineering, and a fraud from the Muppets is on stage telling you to stay connected with your people. I mean, you can’t even make this stuff up. Instead of honoring entrepreneurs, or veterans or innovators they picked Kermit the Frog!

We have students who are drowning in debt, struggling to find jobs, and universities are handing the mic to puppets. Not puppets like many Democratic elected leaders, a real puppet. It’s all theater. I see this as the same institutions who have been pushing political agendas and cancel culture now want to use a puppet to inspire students. It’s unserious, it’s out of touch, and frankly it’s insulting.”

Maybe Riley should listen to Kermit: “As you prepare to take this big leap into real life, here's a little advice – if you're willing to listen to a frog. Rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side by side, because life is better when we leap together."

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