‘RHOD’ Stephanie Hollman Criticized for Campaign Donations to Politician Known for Anti-Muslim Hate
After Real Housewives of Dallas stars, LeeAnne Locken, and Brandi Redmond have come under fire for racist remarks and behavior, fans are now criticizing Stephanie Hollman and her husband for donating to a politician who has a reputation for anti-Muslim hate.
Beth Van Duyne and her history of anti-Muslim hate
The Republican politician served as the mayor of Irving, Texas, from 2011 until 2017, when President Donald Trump appointed her as a regional administrator for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In August 2019, she resigned and announced her plans to run in the 2020 elections to represent Texas’s 24th congressional district. The former mayor first came under fire in 2015 when she pushed for support of a bill that would ban Sharia law, or the Muslim code of law and morality, following a false claim.
The belief that Sharia is gaining traction in America has been considered a conspiracy theory pushed by anti-Muslim groups. She also made anti-Muslim statements criticizing a 14-year-old who was suspended from school for bringing in a homemade alarm clock.
Police officers also arrested him as they believed it was a fake bomb. The school and police department received criticism from people who thought they targeted him based on his name and religion.
However, Van Duyne wrote a statement on Facebook defending the school and police for “looking into what they saw as a potential threat.” The following year, the parents of the student named the politician as a co-defendant in a defamation lawsuit for libelous and inflammatory statements against the minor.
A judge has since dismissed the suit. She has also received awards from two-anti-Muslim hate groups; ACT for America and the Center for Security Policy.
Stephanie and Travis Hollman donated money to her campaign
In August 2019, Real Housewives of Dallas star Stephanie Hollman, and her husband Travis, both made four contributions of $2,800 for a total of $22,400 toward Van Duyne’s run for Congress next year.
It’s unclear why the two support her and what their relation is to the politician. However, the Texas-based couple did donate to her campaign after her reputation of anti-Muslim hate became public.
Fans call for a cast reboot after too many racist allegations
After LeeAnne Locken made derogatory comments towards fellow housewife Kary Brittingham during Season 4, fans called for her removal. Even Andy Cohen referred to the comments as “vile” and “disgusting.”
Additionally, a video resurfaced of Brandi Redmond mocking Asians with her children sitting behind her. Now that another housewife is associated with someone people perceive as racist, fans are calling for an entire cast reboot.
One Twitter user admitted she “loves Stephanie” but thinks it’s time to “bring in some good people.” Another called her a “hypocrite” and said she “has no room to talk about LeeAnne being racist.”
While Bravo has not officially confirmed the fifth season of RHOD, they have advertised casting online. Watch Real Housewives of Dallas Part 2 Reunion on January 8, 2020, at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo.
