Connecticut governor infuriates Houston residents by branding Texas city’s downtown ‘butt ugly’
The governor of Connecticut apologized after calling the city of Houston “butt ugly” following the NCAA Tournament Final Four, which was held in that city last weekend.
Ned Lamont, a Democrat who traveled to Houston and was on Monday night to watch the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team win its fifth NCAA Tournament championship, spoke about his visit earlier this week.
“After winning the semifinals, you’re walking downtown Houston, which is ugly,” the Democrat said. “Not much there.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, also a Democrat, responded that he did not appreciate the governor “throwing shade” at his city after it went to the trouble of “feeding you, dining you, hosting you, accommodate’.
“And you go back and talk about ‘ugly ugly?’ Which side was he looking from?’ Turner said on KHOU-TV.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (pictured) apologized after calling the city of Houston “butt ugly” after the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, held in that city last weekend
“After winning the semifinals, you’re walking downtown Houston, which is ugly,” the Democrat said. ‘not much there’
Locals were similarly angry, with everyone from Republican Senator Ted Cruz to Democratic District Judge Lina Hidalgo tearing up the comments, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Lamont apologized Thursday after being asked about his comments at an unrelated news event.
“We had a ball in Houston during the NCAA Final Four,” Lamont said. “The people there were incredibly friendly and welcoming to us, and the basketball game was pretty good too.”
Lamont also stressed that he was joking on the radio show and said he enjoyed Turner’s response to his comments.
“He said, ‘Maybe the governor is looking at the wrong end of a nice horse,'” Lamont said. “I think I resemble that comment.
“More importantly, I want to say that nothing compares to the beauty of that great Monday night basketball championship.”
Later on Thursday, Lamont and Turner spoke on the phone and Lamont apologized, Turner tweeted.
Turner said he accepted the apology and once again congratulated UConn on his championship.
Houston is the most populous city in Texas, with a population of 2.3 million, and is the fourth most populous metropolitan area in the US after NYC, LA, and Chicago.
It is also the most diverse city in the United States.
Lamont, a Democrat who traveled to Houston and was on hand Monday night to watch the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team win its fifth NCAA Tournament championship, spoke about his visit earlier this week
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, also a Democrat, responded that he didn’t appreciate the governor “throwing shade” at his city after it took the trouble to “feed you, dine you, entertain you, to accommodate’.
Lamont apologized Thursday after being asked about his comments at an unrelated news event
“We both had a great conversation,” Turner tweeted.
UConn students and fans devastated the university campus Monday night as chaos followed their National Championship victory.
The Huskies clinched their fifth national title over San Diego State with a 76-59 victory and fans took the festivities too far as UConn’s campus erupted in chaos.
Thousands of UConn fans, most of them students, poured onto campus after watching a broadcast of the victory in which some knocked down signs and light poles, smashed windows and caused other damage.
Lamont took to Twitter shortly after the 76-59 win to congratulate the team.
“You guys worked so hard for this and we couldn’t be more proud,” he wrote. “Now it’s time to plan a parade.”
The Huskies had dominated this year’s March Madness, winning all their games with ease, often by double digits.
However, UConn did not have to face a No. 3 or higher in this tournament and therefore never trailed in the second half of their last four games.