By Charles Switzer
3:24pm PST, Feb 5, 2025
Sean Duffy Sworn In as Transportation Secretary Amidst Tragedy
Just 24 hours after being sworn in as the new Secretary of Transportation by Vice President
J.D. Vance, ex-'90s reality TV star
Sean Duffy faced his first major challenge when a U.S.
military helicopter collided with a commuter jet over Washington, D.C., killing 67 people.
The tragic accident placed immediate scrutiny on Duffy's ability to lead a department already dealing with national aviation concerns.
However, as he attempts to navigate the crisis, an unexpected issue from his past has surfaced, drawing even more attention to the newly appointed cabinet member.
Here's what's happening.
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Raunchy Reality TV Footage Resurfaces
A controversial video from Duffy's past on
MTV's The Real World: Boston emerged, showing the future Wisconsin congressman performing a striptease in a hotel room.
The clip features a young Duffy removing his clothes and dancing provocatively, clad only in a towel. His castmate,
Montana McGlynn, later licks his nipple in the same footage. Now, McGlynn has come forward to defend Duffy, claiming they were simply young and having fun.
"We were in our early 20s and going through a unique and exciting experience," she told and outlet.
She added that Duffy had always expressed
ambitions to enter politics, making his behavior all the more surprising.
Controversial Interactions with Female Castmates
Duffy's past behavior on The Real World back in 1997 is being examined more closely, with multiple moments from the show now raising questions.
One storyline focused on his repeated flirtations with Genesis Moss, a castmate who identified as a lesbian. Despite her clear disinterest, Duffy continued making advances and at one point, even asked her to "feel my noodle."
Additionally, he was seen mocking another female castmate, Elka Walker, for having dirty underwear and allegedly simulated a sexual act with McGlynn to provoke Walker, who was known for her religious views and had vowed not to engage in premarital s– during filming.
Claims of Inappropriate Behavior and Racism
Beyond his interactions with female castmates, Duffy also faced accusations of racially charged comments. During a heated argument with Kameelah Phillips, a Black cast member, Duffy allegedly compared her to Adolf Hitler and accused her of promoting "reverse racism."
The dispute reportedly stemmed from Phillips stating that "Blacks are the king and queen of society."
In response, Duffy argued, "That is the mentality of the white man of the 1850s, that we are the king race and we're going to put the Black man in slavery."
According to former castmate Jason Cornwell, Duffy continued by saying, "That's a 'master race' kind of thought, that's what Hitler thought."
The resurfacing of these remarks has sparked renewed criticism of Duffy's past views.
Duffy's Personal Life and Political Rise
Despite his past controversies, Duffy later
married Road Rules star Rachel Campos-Duffy, with whom he has nine children. His transition from reality TV to politics was largely successful, culminating in his congressional career and now his cabinet appointment under President
Donald Trump. While McGlynn insists he was never a "womanizer" and describes him as "careful" about his future ambitions, the resurfaced footage and allegations have raised concerns about his past behavior and how it aligns with his current leadership role.
As Secretary of Transportation, Duffy is expected to handle critical national infrastructure and aviation safety challenges, but his past remains an unexpected distraction as he steps into one of the highest-profile roles in the administration.
