Numerous Republican officials in Michigan are scheduled to attend a Juneteenth celebration featuring a QAnon influencer and a doctor who is best known for spreading bizarre medical claims, including that gynecological problems are caused by demon sperm.
Bernadette Smith, the ethnic vice chair of the Michigan Republican Party, is hosting a “Juneteenth Unite America” event featuring streamer Mel K and quack Dr. Stella Immanuel. A flyer for the event also lists state Reps. Neil Friske, Pat Outman, and Steve Carra; state Sen. Rick Outman; and circuit court Judge Joseph Rossi. (Update 7/7/23: Rep. Steve Carra did not end up speaking, according to video of the event; Rep. Tom Hooker, who was not previously listed, also spoke.) Republican Party groups in the state have promoted the event online.
Mel K is a streaming host who has repeatedly pushed the QAnon conspiracy theory. During one of her programs, she stated that “99%” of QAnon has been “proven to be true”:
She has also promoted conspiracy theories about Dominion Voting Systems, Smartmatic, and the death of Seth Rich. During one discussion, Mel K accused Dominion and Smartmatic of being part of a global conspiracy that’s “caught up” in “Pizzagate.”
Stella Immanuel is a COVID-19 conspiracy theorist. Will Sommer reported of Immanuel for the Daily Beast in an article headlined “Trump’s New Favorite COVID Doctor Believes in Alien DNA, Demon Sperm, and Hydroxychloroquine”:
Immanuel, a pediatrician and a religious minister, has a history of making bizarre claims about medical topics and other issues. She has often claimed that gynecological problems like cysts and endometriosis are in fact caused by people having sex in their dreams with demons and witches.
She alleges alien DNA is currently used in medical treatments, and that scientists are cooking up a vaccine to prevent people from being religious. And, despite appearing in Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress on Monday, she has said that the government is run in part not by humans but by “reptilians” and other aliens.
She has also pushed the QAnon-aligned “adrenochrome” conspiracy theory, including tweeting on June 14 that “the elites” drink the blood of children because “they are not human, and they need human flesh and blood to keep their human container. They are like vampires, they live on human blood.”
The Republican Party in Michigan is led by Kristina Karamo, an anti-LGBTQ commentator who has claimed that Beyoncé, Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, yoga, and a Korean drama are all tools of Satan. She also has QAnon connections and refused to concede her 2022 election loss for secretary of state.
