Republican content creator Thelma Louise says she wants answers directly from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after being escorted out of his campaign event in San Antonio, with the influencer claiming she was later told the incident may have involved mistaken identity.
Louise addressed the controversy in a follow-up TikTok video shared on Tuesday, Oct. 19, explaining that she had heard conflicting accounts of what happened and wanted to set the record straight herself. She said she attended Paxton’s event on Sunday, October 18, but was removed without being given a clear explanation at the time.
According to Louise, she was subsequently told that she had been mistaken for a paid agitator working for Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. However, she stressed that she could not confirm whether that explanation was accurate.
“I don’t know if that’s true or not. I don’t know what to believe,” she said, adding that she was the only Black woman in the building, as far as she knew.
The incident had already drawn attention after Louise posted videos describing her removal. The San Antonio Current reported that she had travelled about two hours to attend the gathering at Crown Ridge Banquet Hall, where Paxton and Republican congressional hopeful Brandon Herrera were featured. The outlet also reported that Louise was filming when security personnel escorted her out.
Louise said she intends to speak privately with Paxton and his campaign manager to hear their explanation. She also believes she is owed a public apology, particularly given the support she says she has shown the campaign.
“I still deserve a public apology, especially after all of the support that I’ve given that campaign,” she said.
Despite the dispute, Louise made clear that the experience has not changed her political allegiance. She rejected suggestions that she would leave the Republican Party and said she still plans to vote Republican.
She also pushed back against people who have mocked or insulted her online, arguing that the criticism does not change what she personally experienced.
