A rather strange screenshot appearing to come from the Ted Cruz campaign circulated on Monday.
An ad claimed that all donors were being entered into a “Netflix and Chill Contest with Sen. Cruz.” The phrase “Netflix and chill,” as most know, is a euphemism for sex and/or hooking up.
Many on social media and even in outlets, reacted to the “contest.” While the piece makes it clear it was not real, the title from Chron is reflective of those who perhaps couldn’t help wondering if it actually was, with “Cruz ‘Netflix and Chill contest’ raises eyebrows.” Mediaite sets the record clear from the start with “No, Ted Cruz Did Not Invite People to ‘Netflix and Chill.'”
The move was surely meant to mock Cruz, by suggesting he does not know the meaning of the phrase. Another possibility is that it’s suggesting Cruz wants to get really close with his donors.
The ad does invite the winner to “spend a special evening with Sen. Cruz!,” suggesting it may be the latter.
The hoax just goes to show what people will believe about Republican candidates. Would these candidates, perceived as rich, old, white men (Cruz is actually Hispanic) really be so out of touch as to misinterpret a popular and suggestive phrase? Certainly not. But many on Twitter believed it to be a possibility, with some even gaining quite the popularity.
hey, uh, someone should maybe tell Ted Cruz what that phrase implies pic.twitter.com/g19ibrYjCz
— Happy Andy Boyle (@andymboyle) December 28, 2015
Chron reported on Monday evening that there had been no response from the Cruz campaign. They still noted though that “the contest appears nowhere on Republican candidate’s site.” Well, thank goodness they were able to confirm the obvious.
