Tana Mongeau has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding her podcast co-host, Brooke Schofield, following the resurfacing of a series of “racist” tweets that Brooke posted between 2012 and 2015. The tweets, which have sparked widespread outrage, include comments defending George Zimmerman, the man who fatally shot Trayvon Martin in 2012. The backlash against Brooke began on August 3, when these old tweets went viral, leading to intense criticism and demands for accountability.
Brooke Schofield responded to the backlash by issuing an apology on TikTok, but the response from viewers was largely negative, with many criticizing her for the insensitivity and harmful nature of the posts. Despite her apology, the controversy has continued to gain traction, prompting Tana Mongeau to address the situation directly on their joint podcast, Cancelled.
During a recent episode of Cancelled, Tana Mongeau appeared alone, with Brooke notably absent. Tana took this opportunity to express her condemnation of the tweets, describing them as “f***ed up” and “horrific.” She was clear in her disapproval, stating, “I have no right to forgive her as a white person for the things that she said.” Tana revealed that she initially offered Brooke support when the tweets resurfaced but quickly regretted doing so. “I’m going to beat myself up for that forever, quite frankly,” she admitted.
Tana Mongeau emphasized that simply attributing Brooke’s tweets to her upbringing was insufficient and failed to address the real issue. She reflected on her own history with controversial and “racist” tweets, acknowledging that personal growth is an ongoing process. “I know that there’s always more growing for me to do,” she said, stressing the importance of continuous learning and self-improvement.
In discussing Brooke’s current situation, Tana expressed hope that her co-host was taking this time to reflect, learn, and grow from her mistakes. “I told Brooke this the other day, I said, ‘You have to make peace with the fact that there will be people that never forgive you. This may recirculate for the rest of your life and you have to be ready to be open and honest and talk about it.’”
While Tana did not excuse Brooke’s past behavior, she noted that in their time working together on Cancelled, Brooke’s actions and words had never aligned with the sentiments expressed in the resurfaced tweets. Tana, who has often advocated for her own personal growth, expressed a desire to see Brooke undertake a similar journey of self-reflection and change.
To demonstrate her commitment to learning and growth, Tana announced that she would be donating the proceeds from this particular podcast episode and her TikTok creator fund to the Trayvon Martin Foundation. She expressed a desire to “continue to learn,” “educate” herself, and “unlearn” behaviors that she no longer resonates with.
This controversy has put both Tana Mongeau and Brooke Schofield under scrutiny, highlighting the challenges of navigating past mistakes in the public eye. As the situation continues to unfold, Tana’s response has set a tone of accountability and the need for ongoing personal development. Whether this will be enough to satisfy critics remains to be seen, but Tana’s actions indicate a willingness to confront difficult issues head-on.