Gillian Michaels Discusses Smithsonian Exhibits on CNN
Fitness expert Gillian Michaels made an appearance on CNN’s “News Night with Abby Phillip,” where she voiced her critiques regarding certain Smithsonian museum exhibits, implying they reflect a clear bias.
Michaels directed her commentary against Rep. Richie Torres (D-N.Y.) and former Democratic strategist Julie Loginsky, particularly highlighting issues related to the Trump administration and the official review of Smithsonian materials.
Loginsky expressed concerns that the Trump administration appointed “random people” to decide what’s appropriate for museum displays, arguing that those exhibits need to align with topics that wouldn’t upset the president or his supporters. In response, Michaels pressed the panelists to reconsider some of the exhibits, as Loginsky contended that the topic of slavery is something the Trump administration tends to avoid.
She remarked, “Did you know that when you walk through the door, the first thing you see is a gay flag?” to which she added that the exhibits portray slavery in a manner that isn’t intended to sanitize the history. Despite objections from Loginsky, Michaels asserted that only 2% of white Americans owned slaves, suggesting that slavery has been a global issue for thousands of years, long before America even existed.
“Do you know who was the first race to end slavery?” Michaels queried Loginsky. At this point, host Philip expressed disbelief, suggesting that it was surprising for someone who benefits from slavery to take such a stance.
Michaels later stated she was unwilling to back down from her assertions, while Phillip pointed out that all arguments seemed to pivot around race, to which Michaels responded, “It’s all because, ‘Oh, no, no, no, ‘white people are bad.’ That’s simply not true,” referencing the museum’s portrayal of history.
As the discussion continued, Michaels pointed out an exhibit titled “Changing Your Game,” discussing the complexities of gender testing in sports, which she described as basic science. The conversation grew tense, with the panel struggling to answer Michaels’ question, “Why is this in the Smithsonian?”
Michaels argued that the exhibits are overtly politicized, saying, “It’s completely captured and it’s completely partisan.” When the host mentioned there wasn’t time to address all her points, Michaels countered by insisting they were foregone conclusions based on racial narratives.
After the segment, Michaels shared an image from the Smithsonian exhibit on Cuba and the Caribbean migration to the U.S. on her platform, pointing out how the exhibit framed migration narratives. She criticized the representation, which discussed U.S. policies contributing to violence and corruption, neglecting to acknowledge the impact of communist policies on poverty.
Michaels noted it was problematic to center all exhibits around “white imperialism” when that wasn’t the entire story. While her claim about the 2% figure was contested by progressives who felt it lacked nuance regarding states with significant slave ownership, it sparked wider discussions about historical narratives in American contexts.
