‘You Smell Good’: Kamala Harris Interview Gets Weird

Vice President Kamala Harris recently participated in an interview that took an unusual turn early on.

During her appearance on “The Shade Room,” the host, Justin Carter, kicked things off by commenting on her fragrance, telling Harris, “you smell good” before allowing her to discuss her "Opportunity Agenda For Black Men."

“How did we get here? You smell good, you look good,” Carter remarked.

Harris humorously responded, “That’s better than smelling bad.”

As the conversation shifted, Harris mentioned the urgency of the election, stating, “There’s 23 days left until the election, and I am in these streets.”

The interview also had an uncomfortable moment when Harris corrected Carter after he referred to former President “Barack Hussein Obama.”

This comes amid some backlash from Black men toward former President Obama, following his recent comments about their diminishing support for Harris. Just before a Harris campaign event in Pittsburgh last week, Obama stopped by a campaign office and shared his thoughts on the issue.

During the visit, Obama said he intended to "speak some truths," particularly addressing Black men and their reluctance to back Harris. He expressed concern that voter turnout in some areas, especially among Black men, wasn't at the same levels as when he ran for office.

“My understanding, based on reports I’m getting from campaigns and communities, is that we have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running,” Obama explained, adding that it “seems to be more pronounced with the brothers.”

Obama openly questioned why some voters, particularly Black men, were still undecided between Harris and former President Donald Trump.

“On the one hand, you have somebody who grew up like you, knows you, went to college with you, understands the struggles and pain and joy that comes from those experiences,” Obama said of Harris, while critiquing her inconsistent policy positions. In contrast, referring to Trump, he said, “you have someone who has consistently shown disregard, not just for the communities, but for you as a person … And you are thinking about sitting out?”

He went on to suggest that discomfort with electing the first female president might be influencing some of this lukewarm support. “And you’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses. I’ve got a problem with that,” Obama said. “Because part of it makes me think — and I’m speaking to men directly — part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that.”

Support for Democratic candidates among Black men has been steadily declining since Obama’s presidency. According to data from The Hill, Obama received 95% of the Black male vote in 2008, which dropped to 87% in 2012. In 2016, Hillary Clinton secured 82%, while President Joe Biden received 80% in 2020.

Former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner addressed Obama's remarks during a CNN appearance, criticizing his approach.

“Why are Black men being lectured to? Why are Black men being belittled in ways that no other voting group are?” Turner asked. “Now, a lot of love for former President Obama, but for him to single out Black men is wrong, and some of the Black men that I have talked to have their reasons why they want to vote a different way, and even if some of us may not like that, we have to respect it.”

Turner argued that political messaging should be aimed at all voters and encourage participation from everyone, without focusing on race or gender.

Actor Wendell Pierce also shared his thoughts on the issue, posting on X that the speech sent an “awful message” and warning the Democratic Party not to "scapegoat" Black men.

“Black men aren’t the problem. White men and white women are,” Pierce wrote. “Black men voting for Trump is insignificant. This accusatorial tone will make some Black men stay home — which is worse. Black men are questioning our party to find out what their loyalty for decades earns them. That’s good. That’s healthy. Democrats have the record to stand on and should embrace the challenge.”