Birmingham Mayor's Vulgar Phone Call Leak Ignites Political Feud
A prominent southern Democrat once hailed as a rising star within the party has been embroiled in controversy after a leaked phone recording captured him making a vulgar remark during a heated exchange with a political opponent. The incident has thrown a harsh spotlight on the bitter internal rift between two key figures in Alabama's Democratic politics.
Leaked Conversation Reveals Crude Exchange
According to a report by AL.com, the controversy centres on a six-minute phone call placed in October by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin to Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales. The mayor initiated the call to confront Scales over rumours that he was supporting her challenger in an upcoming commissioner race.
During the conversation, which was made public online on Tuesday, Woodfin made a shocking reference, stating their last conversation was about two ti**ies. He pressed the commissioner, asking You remember that conversation? 'Cause I remember well.
Scales, a fellow Democrat who ran against Woodfin in last year's mayoral election, appeared stunned by the comment, responding with Wait a minute, the last conversation was about what? The mayor then repeated and spelled out the vulgar term for breasts.
Accusations and Threats Escalate the Conflict
When Scales demanded clarification, asking And you're saying that in regards to what, Randall, Woodfin retorted I'm saying in regards to you. He accused her of being unable to keep my name out your mouth after eight years and labelled her a bully.
The mayor, who was notably featured as a Democratic rising star at the 2020 Democratic National Convention, then issued a direct political threat. He warned Scales that he would actively support her opponent if she continued to discuss him publicly, stating I will gladly get in the race if you keep telling people that.
Scales did not retreat from the confrontation. She told Woodfin he was displaying a very arrogant attitude about your ability to cross into various elections and firmly instructed him don't ever call me and say anything like that, OK?
Public Reaction and Social Media Frenzy
The leaked audio spread rapidly across social media platforms, triggering a wave of local reaction. Birmingham residents took to online forums, with many questioning exactly whose breasts the mayor was referencing. The scandal was quickly dubbed Two Ti**ies Tuesday by commentators and citizens alike, highlighting the intense public scrutiny now facing the mayor's office.
Mayor's Defence and Counter-Allegations
Facing mounting pressure, Mayor Woodfin addressed the controversy on social media by the end of the day. He asserted that his remarks were not directed at any specific woman but were instead a reference to a past conversation with Scales herself from several years earlier.
Woodfin claimed that during a discussion in 2017, when Scales was a Birmingham City Council member and had helped his mayoral campaign, she used the phrase two ti**ies to demand his political loyalty. According to his account, Scales told him You got two ti**ies, right? ... then give me one ti**y and you can give the other eight councilors the other ti**y.
The mayor stated he refused this demand, insisting he would treat all y'all fair, after which Scales allegedly said oh, we'll see and ended the call. Woodfin concluded that this was their last interaction until she tried to make headlines today by leaking a call to the press.
A Relationship Soured by Political Vendetta
Woodfin elaborated that their professional relationship deteriorated significantly after that 2017 exchange. He accused Scales of harbouring a personal vendetta against him because he would not submit to her unspecified demands upon her move from the city council to the county commission.
She's used every opportunity since to fight against the progress our administration has made, the mayor wrote. Not because they were bad policies, but because they weren't hers. However, he did not provide further details about the nature of these alleged demands.
Commissioner's Firm Rebuttal
Commissioner Scales forcefully rejected the mayor's version of events in her statement to AL.com. She dismissed his claims as unsubstantiated, stating While he has no proof of the accounts he has alleged against my good name and character, I have presented solid evidence of the constant bullying I have experienced from Mayor Woodfin.
Asserting her commitment to her constituents, Scales declared my record speaks for itself. She emphasised her dedication to Birmingham, noting I am a proud resident of Birmingham. To not help the city of Birmingham would hurt the citizens of Birmingham as well as myself.
This public clash, amplified by the leaked recording, exposes a deep and longstanding political feud that continues to disrupt local governance in Alabama's largest city. The scandal raises serious questions about conduct, accountability, and the internal dynamics of the Democratic party in the region.
