California's Governor Gavin Newsom has found himself at the centre of a dual-pronged controversy, facing online mockery for his posture during a high-profile summit and a public dressing-down from actress and activist Halle Berry over a vetoed healthcare bill.
The Sitting Scandal and an AI-Powered Retort
Earlier this week, the 58-year-old Democrat became a target for relentless online trolling after critics took issue with his cross-legged sitting position while speaking at The New York Times' DealBook Summit. Detractors labelled his posture as 'feminine', 'uncomfortable-looking', and anatomically confusing for a man.
In a swift and unconventional response, Newsom's press office bit back on Friday by releasing a striking, AI-generated image on social media platform X. The picture depicted the governor in an extreme yoga-like pose, with his legs in the air and ankles crossed near his face, his hands pressed together at his chest.
The post was captioned, 'Democracy requires flexibility.' Newsom himself reposted the image with a simple, 'WOW!' effectively using humour and technology to deflect the personal criticism.
Halle Berry's Fiery Accusation on Stage
In a separate but equally dramatic moment, actress Halle Berry, who appeared on stage just before Newsom, launched a direct attack on the governor's record with women's health. She accused him of 'devaluing' women and stated he 'should not be our next president either.'
Berry's outrage stemmed from Newsom's veto, for a second consecutive year, of the bipartisan Menopause Care Equity Act. The bill, which she had tirelessly championed, would mandate insurance coverage for menopause symptoms and require specific medical training on the issue.
The actress, who discovered in 2024 she had been misdiagnosed while in perimenopause for a decade, has been a vocal advocate on the subject.
Newsom's Defence and a Surprising Budget Revelation
The confrontation took a new turn on Thursday when Newsom, speaking at Newark International Airport, claimed the measure was already included in California's 2026 budget, passed in June. He stated he had spoken with Berry's manager and they were 'reconciling this,' adding, 'We're getting it fixed.'
He suggested Berry was unaware of the budget inclusion before her speech. A spokesperson for Newsom later said he 'deeply admires' Berry's advocacy but defended the vetoes, arguing the bill would have 'unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women and working families already stretched thin.'
According to sources cited by TMZ, the governor had planned to announce the funded measure in January, but Berry's public criticism prompted him to accelerate the timeline and reveal the budget provision early.
This series of events highlights the intense scrutiny facing Newsom, a potential contender for the 2028 presidential race, as he navigates both the court of public opinion on personal style and substantive policy debates on women's healthcare.
