Tailgates—informal parking lot parties to celebrate athletic events—are a major part of North American athletic culture, especially at college football games.
Michigan's Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a recent Facebook apology that she had too much fun tailgating at the recent football game between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.
She volunteered an apology on the social media outlet, noting that her team urged her to get crisis management experts to navigate the "scandal."
Referring to the incident as "TAILGATE-GATE," Nessel leaned into self deprecating humor, writing:
"Before the big game, I attended a tailgate on an empty stomach. Much to my surprise, MSU tailgate's tend to have more alcohol than food, so I thought it seemed like a good idea to eat 2 Bloody Mary's, since as long as you put enough vegetables in them, it's practically a salad. As it turned out, this was not a brilliant idea. Also, I might be a terrible bartender.
I proceeded to go to the game (which I'm told Michigan definitely won!) and started to feel ill. I laid low for a while, but my friends recommended that I leave so as to prevent me from vomiting on any of my constituents (polling consistently shows "Roman showers" to be unpopular among most demographics)."
Nessel later said she was moved through the parking lot in a wheelchair to avoid falling. She then got into a vehicle with her designated driver who escorted her home, where her wife supplied her with Tylenol and water in anticipation of a "skull-crushing hangover" the next day.
Nessel concluded:
"I am human. Sometimes I screw up. This was definitely one of those times. My apologies to the entire state of Michigan for this mishap, but especially that Michigan fan sitting behind me. Some things you can't un-see. ... Sorry to all the people who have supported me for letting you down. I will try to do better."
Fortunately for the Michigan Attorney General, the public was more than forgiving, with many even celebrating the human moment.
Listen, I already love Dana Nessel. There\u2019s no need to keep selling me on her with stories of team loyalty and heroism.https://twitter.com/tori_sachs/status/1458587229165654018\u00a0\u2026— Charlotte Clymer \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Charlotte Clymer \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1636665257
So on her own time she got wasted\u2026 outside of wearing those ugly colors what\u2019s the issue? LEAVE PEOPLE DA FUC ALONE!!!https://twitter.com/tori_sachs/status/1458587229165654018\u00a0\u2026— K. Justice BOUNDARIES ARE OKAY (@K. Justice BOUNDARIES ARE OKAY) 1636651291
oh no AG Nessel acts like an actual person and not a robothttps://twitter.com/tori_sachs/status/1458587229165654018\u00a0\u2026— Ian Sandler-Bowen (@Ian Sandler-Bowen) 1636665864
I wouldn\u2019t trust anyone who *hasn\u2019t* puked after tailgating at a football game. Also, bloody marys in solo cups can be sneaky AF so\u2026 https://twitter.com/tori_sachs/status/1458587229165654018\u00a0\u2026— Megan Walter (@Megan Walter) 1636650755
In fact, people could easily relate.
If too many bloodys before a football game requires explanation, I have some announcements to make. 1/245https://twitter.com/Tori_Sachs/status/1458587229165654018\u00a0\u2026— Rory Cooper (@Rory Cooper) 1636643679
she just like me frhttps://twitter.com/tori_sachs/status/1458587229165654018\u00a0\u2026— bliv\ud83d\udc9a\ud83c\udf41\ud83e\udd83 (@bliv\ud83d\udc9a\ud83c\udf41\ud83e\udd83) 1636635394
So what? Haven\u2019t we all done this once or twice? She didn\u2019t drive!https://twitter.com/tori_sachs/status/1458587229165654018\u00a0\u2026— Timothy Ball (@Timothy Ball) 1636628551
Extremely relatable tbh \n\nAnd honestly if you were a Michigan fan watching this game, blacking out was probably the preferable optionhttps://twitter.com/tori_sachs/status/1458587229165654018\u00a0\u2026— Bryan Rice (@Bryan Rice) 1636644873
This sucks lol. Man we\u2019ve all been there and I doubt an AG is ripping shots at a tailgate.\n\n2 bloody marys on an empty stomach will smack you in the facehttps://twitter.com/tori_sachs/status/1458587229165654018\u00a0\u2026— Tyler Scott (@Tyler Scott) 1636630738
Sadly for Nessel, her preferred team—University of Michigan—lost by four points.
