For reasons known only to those involved, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology tapped Ivanka Trump to be the guest speaker at their virtual graduation. However, just a day and a half before the Saturday night ceremony, the school removed Ivanka’s speech from the program, according to People Magazine [1].
Ivanka had prerecorded a commencement speech weeks ago, but WSU Tech President Dr. Sheree Utash tweeted a new statement [2] saying Ivanka would no longer be delivering the headline speech.
The cancellation announcement says more than Ivanka ever could.
“In light of the social justice issues brought forth by George Floyd’s death, I understand and take responsibility that the timing of the announcement was insensitive,” Utash’s statement reads. “For this, I’m sorry. That was never the intent, and I want you to know I have heard you and we are responding.”
Whoa.
WSU is not canceling the virtual graduation ceremony, they are removing Ivanka’s presence. Thus, Ivanka being a Trump – released her speech anyway. Just like Donald is not going to be denied his convention, Ivanka is not going to be denied her talk and her message.
And Ivanka is not happy about the cancellation. She posted the recording of the speech she intended to give on Twitter and railed against “cancel culture.”
“Our nation’s campuses should be bastions of free speech. Cancel culture and viewpoint discrimination are antithetical to academia. Listening to one another is important now more than ever!” she tweeted.
Our nation’s campuses should be bastions of free speech. Cancel culture and viewpoint discrimination are antithetical to academia.
Listening to one another is important now more than ever!https://t.co/VW6W8TIL9c [3]
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) June 5, 2020 [4]
The internet had a field day with this particular clip of Ivanka’s speech, where she talked about all the adversity she has faced:
Ivanka Trump: "I've found that my greatest personal growth has arisen from times of discomfort and uncertainty." pic.twitter.com/Vy9Loay4Bm [5]
— The Hill (@thehill) June 6, 2020 [6]
The net roared with laugher about Ivanka referencing the times she faced adversity. She is “daddy’s favorite” and surely never “wanted” anything in her life that wasn’t hers.
Plus, could she possibly have sounded less human? It is like a department store mannequin was invited to give your graduation and then someone said: “Siri, give a commencement address.” It had about the same amount of feeling.
I am so inspired by Ivanka overcoming the discomfort of breaking a nail. https://t.co/R3vcxIk8O1 [7]
— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) June 6, 2020 [8]
Yes. I am sure it hurt! But not as much as having her talk canceled!
"one time the maid was like 20 minutes late, even after I had docked her a week's pay for being 15 minutes late the year before"
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) June 6, 2020 [9]
It must have been awful!
"One time I had to buy clothes off the rack. At a store where commoners are allowed."
— Tom Bigler (@tsbigler) June 6, 2020 [10]
Too close to true.
Another time, I had to hold my own baby when no one was there to record it and post on Instagram. It was hard, and for a few seconds I thought I wasn't going to make it. But then I thought of the money Jared and I could make screwing Americans, and I held on.
— Barb Culligan (@barb_culligan) June 6, 2020 [11]
I love the reference to “no one there to record it,” because to the Trump family, it didn’t happen unless it was released on Twitter or celebrated somewhere.
It was an especially trying time for ME when I asserted myself into a discussion amongst the top leaders of the world; I didn’t feel any warmth or envy eminating from their ungrateful beings. Harumpf
— MakeAmericaStayHome-M•A•S•H🗽 (@perrymason888) June 6, 2020 [12]
Heinously laughable
— karatdawn (@karatdawn) June 6, 2020 [13]
This is the part that the Trumps will never understand because they cannot relate to real people. She should never, ever, have talked about her “adversities,” perhaps only talking about things she’s seen other people do as beautiful work.
We might also note that the decision to remove Ivanka’s remarks came after news hit that it was Ivanka’s idea to have protesters cleared out of Lafayette Plaza so that Trump could have a photo-opportunity in front of the church.
Poor Ivanka. She worked so hard on the speech, this is so unfair to her.
Ivanka did have some big names rush to her defense as well, including the God-awful Tom Cotton, and her big brother Don Jr.
This is absurd. @IvankaTrump [14], who leads economic development initiatives, was giving a non-partisan graduation speech at a community college.
Great opportunity for grads to hear from a senior WH advisor.
Instead, the woke mob struck. https://t.co/XOm0sXmQYJ [15]
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) June 5, 2020 [16]
If the snowflakes so offended by the idea of hearing from a White House advisor couldn’t contain their emotions, they should have skipped the speech.
Instead, they ruined it for everyone.
The proper approach to the woke mob is never to give in—it’s to tell them to grow up.
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) June 5, 2020 [17]
And here is Don Jr. saying social justice is a disease, when the actual disease is the Trump family:
Ivanka Trump’s commencement speech was canceled because social justice is a disease https://t.co/WXGy5AgkFk [18]
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) June 5, 2020 [19]
****
Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom