The governor of Oklahoma has been blocked by YouTube after posting a video advocating for legalizing cockfighting.
Republican Kevin Stitt weighed in on the blood sport last week with a filmed message during a meeting and fundraiser for the state’s gamefowl commission.
“Oklahomans like you remain committed to the spirit of competition and camaraderie that runs deep in our communities,” he said in the clip, which is still live on Vimeo.
He added that while he could not attend the Nov. 12 rally, Republicans would be “cheering them on from the sidelines.”
YouTube has since flagged and removed a video of the speech posted to the site by Animal Wellness Action.
Kevin Stitt, a Republican who has not shied away from controversial issues, voiced his support for the sport last week with a filmed message during a meeting and fundraiser for the state gamefowl commission.
“Content depicting the malicious infliction of physical or psychological harm to animals is not permitted on YouTube,” they said, although the video is only a speech and does not show footage of cockfighting.
‘We assess educational, documentary, artistic and scientific content on a case-by-case basis. Limited exceptions will be made if there is sufficient context.”
Several members of the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission were accused of illegal cockfighting still in August.
Animal Wellness Action said in a statement that they were not necessarily in favor of removing the video, but hope it will lead to more people understanding their views on cockfighting.
“While we do not support the removal of Governor Stitt’s Valentine for Cockfighters video, the YouTube action is another indication that his statement promotes the criminal enterprise of cockfighting and the bloodshed that results from staged animal fights,” the president said. Wayne Pacelle.
“Governor Stitt can get on the right side of this issue by saying he is against cockfighting and against any bill to weaken the state law approved by voters.”
Former Oklahoma Governor Fred Keating and former Attorney General Drew Edmondson joined Animal Wellness Action Hitting Stitt for his speech.
Cockfighting has been banned in Oklahoma since 2002 KFOR, although there have been recent efforts to reduce the penalty for this practice. Both bills passed in the Senate.
Still (pictured right) added that while he couldn’t attend the Nov. 12 rally, the Republican would be “cheering them on from the sidelines.”
YouTube has since flagged and removed a video of the speech posted on the site by Animal Wellness Action, which calls out animal cruelty
Former Oklahoma Governor Fred Keating (pictured) and former Attorney General Drew Edmondson joined Animal Wellness Action in condemning Stitt for his speech
Stitt, a Republican, has faced challenges with the construction of a new governor’s mansion and the car ventures of both his wife and son.
Stitt faced backlash in 2022 for quietly making plans to build a new $6.5 million official governor’s mansion on the grounds of the capitol complex, after abandoning the original mansion — where the past 90 year every first family was housed.
The subterfuge, first revealed by KFORhas critics wondering who is bringing in six-figure donations to Stitt — and what private favors the powerful lawmaker might do for them in return.
Stitt has long boasted of his commitment to transparency but has now refused to reveal the names of his donors, even though he is not legally obliged to do so.
GOP state Rep. Logan Phillips is among those unimpressed by the governor’s antics.
He said, ‘Who donates? What do they get bribes for? I guarantee they are.
“We don’t have bidding contracts here, and the governor is using this as a way to raise money for himself or for his banking system. This is self-enrichment and self-service at its core.’
The mega-mansion plan was discovered after Stitt reportedly called the original governor’s mansion in Oklahoma City “uninhabitable.”
That comes despite the fact that a $2 million renovation was completed last year, giving the mansion a new roof, windows, heating system, kitchen, plumbing and structural improvements.
He and his wife Sarah – a controversial figure who escaped punishment in 2021 after causing two accidents in taxpayer-funded SUVs – have complained that mold in the property is making their children sick.
They even complained after millions of taxpayer dollars were used to improve the home, which the governor doesn’t even live in.
Instead, Republican Stitt and his family left home shortly after August 2019, when he purchased a $2.7 million dollar estate at Oak Tree Golf and Country Club.
He then began making plans to build a new, lavish governor’s mansion and pitched the idea to former first families – none of whom supported the proposal.
The Stitts are said to have defended their plan by saying the proposed new mansion would not cost taxpayers anything. But others have countered that Oklahoma taxpayers will have to pay for the maintenance of the new property, as well as the historic mansion, after the Stitts leave office.
John Kevin Stitt, who began his term in 2019, has secretly raised money to build a new $6.5 million official mansion after complaining that his historic home was making his children sick
Recent first families are proud of the renovations – with Frank Keating building the Phillips Pavilion, David Walters expanding the family living space on the second floor, and Brad Henry paying for a grand piano and a family movie room. The mansion is pictured in 2019
The New House: Renderings of the new mansion Governor Stitt wants to live in
Governor Stitt and First Lady Sarah Stitt have moved out of the historic home and are secretly planning to build a brand new mansion on the property
Former tenants have described the joy of being able to live in the mansion that Stitt is now trying to ignore
Stitt’s wife Sarah avoided punishment after her poor driving caused her to have two accidents in taxpayer-funded cars. She wrecked two new state-owned Chevrolet Suburban SUVs in 2021, but was not reprimanded for either collision
Insiders claim that when Stitt, 49, moved into the historic 14,000-square-foot home in 2019, it had fallen into disrepair and there was mold in the heating and ventilation systems.
This caused the family’s six children to become ill KFOR.
The historic mansion, which opened in 1928 and has housed 19 state governors, was a fire hazard and “not suitable for family living.”
She wrecked two of the state’s new Chevrolet Suburban SUVs in 2021, but was not reprimanded for either collision.
Stitt’s son also got into trouble when he was caught driving under the influence in 2022 and told officers his father was the governor.