Who is Ayanna Pressley, the Massachusetts congressional rep who made history?
After upsetting her opponent for his congressional seat, Pressley became yet another progressive woman to make history. Here is what you need to know about the freshman Massachusetts congresswoman.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., a member of "The Squad," rushed to celebrate Will Smith when he slapped Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith at the Oscars.
Yet Pressley appears to have deleted the tweet mere minutes later.
After Rock made a joke about a sequel to "G.I. Jane," apparently referring to Pinkett Smith's bald head, Smith reportedly rushed on stage, slapped Rock in the face, and then returned to his seat.
OSCARS: WILL SMITH SLAPS CHRIS ROCK OVER JADA PINKETT SMITH JOKE
Pinkett Smith has been open about her struggle with hair loss.
US actor Will Smith (R) slaps US actor Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Pressley appeared to identify with Pinkett Smith in her tweet. She used the word Alopecia, the medical term for bald.
"#Alopecia nation stand up!" the congresswoman tweeted. "Thank you #WillSmith Shout out to all the husbands who defend their wives living with alopecia in the face of daily ignorance & insults."
US Representative Ayanna Pressley, Democrat of Massachusetts, joins House Democrats at a news conference on the "Women's Health Protection Act," on September 24, 2021, in Washington DC. - The act would establish a federally protected right to abortion access. ((Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images))
"Women with baldness are for the real men only only [sic]," Pressley added. "Boys need not apply."
Pressley's office alerted Fox News to the congresswoman's follow-up tweets Monday afternoon.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith attend the Oscars 2022. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
"My life's work has always been about trauma & healing," Pressley tweeted around noon Monday. "I’m a survivor - I don’t endorse violence in any form."
The congresswoman went on to discuss her experience with alopecia.
"Let’s talk about what it’s like to live with #alopecia," she wrote. "The deeply vulnerable & difficult moments that our families see. Appreciation post for those who hold us down & support us when we’re at our lowest points. They see us, fully."
"Our bodies are not public domain," Pressley added. "They are not a line in a joke—especially when the transformation is not of our choosing. I’m a survivor of violence. I'm a proud Alopecian. The psychological toll we carry daily is real. Team Jada always. That’s that on that."
Pressley's office also highlighted the congresswoman's previous remarks on alopecia, including her interview with The Root revealing her "beautiful bald head." The office also the congresswoman's securing an amendment to provide $5 million to fund research on Alopecia areata, her leadership of the CROWN Act to ban race-based hair discrimination, and her introduction of the Wigs as Durable Medical Equipment Act.
The office also highlighted her record on violence prevention, including her support for the latest version of the Violence Against Women Act, which included a Pressley amendment to include the first-ever grant program dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, assault, and stalking.
This story has been updated to reflect further statements from Pressley as highlighted by her office.
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