Olivia Rodrigo Hands Flowers to Ohio Democrat Amy Acton at a Columbus Concert, in Her 'Acton for Governor' Shirt
Breitbart reports the pop star made the gesture mid-show Friday, days before Acton faces Vivek Ramaswamy for governor. The report also recounts an ad featuring Acton's mother.
Pop star Olivia Rodrigo walked into the crowd at her Columbus, Ohio, concert on Friday, handed flowers to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton and hugged her, Breitbart's Warner Todd Huston reports.
The moment. During her first show at the Schottenstein Center at Ohio State University, as she sang "Stupid Song," Rodrigo went to where Acton was seated. Breitbart says she was wearing an "Amy Acton for Governor" shirt on stage. Acton later thanked her on X, writing, "Ohio Loves You."
The race. Acton faces Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy on Tuesday. Breitbart says polls give Acton a tiny edge, well within the margin of error. We have not checked that claim.
The ad. Breitbart also recounts an ad aired last month in which a woman identified as Acton's mother says her daughter "lies about her past," including a claim about growing up in a tent, and urges Ohioans not to vote for her. We could not confirm the ad's claims. Breitbart presents the mother's words as quoted in the ad, and the report does not include a reply from Acton.
What to keep in mind. This is an entertainment-meets-politics item from an openly partisan outlet. A celebrity's gesture at a concert is not an official endorsement or a measure of voter support, and we do not know how many people in the arena saw it.