MSNBC Interview With Rep Eric Swalwell Prompts #FartGate Debate: Watch
Whoever denied it supplied it? MSNBC's Hardball With Chris Matthews got a bit awkward on Monday when democratic Representative Eric Swalwell came on for an interview surrounding President Donald Trump's impeachment hearings.
As Swalwell was talking, he briefly paused and moved forward right as a loud noise, which many online immediately attributed to a fart, blasted out over the airwaves.
OMFG SOUND ON pic.twitter.com/StziH3Yh49
— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) November 19, 2019
The moment sparked #FartGate, which not only got people talking online, it also started several fan accounts including @Eric_Fartwell, which labeled itself "Eric Swalwell's Fart."
"Eric might be the whistleblower, why not? He leaked me. #fartgate," one tweet reads.
Eric might be the whistleblower, why not? He leaked me. #fartgate
— Eric Swalwell’s Fart (@Eric_Fartwell) November 19, 2019
The live TV moment prompted a slew of denials, both from Swalwell and MSNBC. When asked by BuzzFeed News reporter Addy Baird about the alleged fart via text, Swalwell insisted, "It was not me!!!!! Ha. And I didn't hear it when I was speaking."
Swalwell also made light of the moment on Twitter, writing: "This, too, shall pass...
NEWS: SWALWELL denies it was him who farted on MSNBC: pic.twitter.com/IYmHwYfuGf
— Addy Baird (@addysue) November 19, 2019
MSNBC also tweeted an explanation. "Sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists - it was the #hardball mug scraping across the desk," the tweet read along with a link to a coffee mug. "Get yours today and let’s get back to the news!"
Sorry to disappoint the conspiracy theorists - it was the #hardball mug scraping across the desk. Get yours today and let’s get back to the news! https://t.co/SG8Owm2IBw
— Hardball (@hardball) November 19, 2019
Swalwell responded to the message: "TOTAL EXONERATION!"
Chrissy Teigen, however, was not so thrilled about MSNBC's explanation, tweeting: "No, it's a fart. Don't ruin this."
no it’s a fart don’t ruin this https://t.co/8KGdXohGwl
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) November 19, 2019
This wouldn't be the first awkward moment caught on camera. Check out Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian's uncomfortable silence at the 2019 People's Choice Awards:
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