July 24 (UPI) — The winner of a make-up artist contest said she was disqualified after the contest promoter found out she is a supporter of President Donald Trump.
Gypsy Freeman, who lives in Kansas and Florida, was declared the winner of a contest sponsored by makeup line Kat Von D Beauty, in which contestants had to post photos of a model in a “Saint + Sinner” theme as a promotion for the company’s new line of make-up, according to screenshots.
Freeman won with two, professionally-shot side-by-side photos posted to Instagram. She and her photographer, Jenn Bischoff, were supposed to be flown out to the Kat Von D Saint + Sinner launch party and receive a prize package worth more than $2,000.
But then Von D fans discovered a pro-Trump post on Freeman’s Instagram page from Election Day in 2016 and immediately alerted the well-known tattoo artist and former reality TV star.
Von D then direct-messaged Freeman to say that she had “drawn a personal line in the sand between myself and anyone who supports that man,” according to screenshots of the conversation.
“My launch party (and my brand) celebrates many things that Trump is against,” Von D continued, according to the screenshots. “And I just need you to know that I personally have a hard time with inviting anyone who would support such an anti-feminist, anti-homosexual/LGBT, anti-immigrant, and anti-climate change fascist such as Trump.”
According to screenshots published by the Wichita Eagle, Freeman wrote back: “I won’t be upset with you if you can’t have us there for these reasons, and I wish you the best. We would love to be there, of course, but I sincerely do understand if you decide to replace us with someone who supports the candidate you support.”
But Von D said supporting failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wasn’t the main issue.
“It’s not about inviting people based on their political stance — it’s just extremely difficult (borderline impossible) for me to be friends with or associate with anyone who would support a man who goes against everything I stand for,” she replied, according to screenshots. “I would feel the same way towards people who supported Hitler, or any other fascist.”
All mention of the contest was then taken down from the Kat Von D Instagram page.
Freeman said she understood Von D’s decision and respected her right to handle her contest the way she wants.
“Part of the great thing about this country is having freedom of speech,” she said.
But she told the Tampa Bay Times that she has an issue with being disqualified from a contest because of who she voted for. She also said that she has been a target of insults from people online because she voted for Trump.
“It’s definitely bigotry — it’s everything that they’re calling us, they’re doing,” Freeman said. “It’s a huge case of hypocrisy.”
