Olivia Julianna stood up to authority thanks to WWE.
At a Turning Point USA Student Action Summit over the weekend, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz questioned “why is it that the women with the least likelihood of getting pregnant are the ones most worried about abortions? Nobody wants to impregnate you if you look like a thumb. These people are odious from the inside out. They’re like 5’2”, 350 pounds, and they’re like ‘Give me my abortions or I’ll get up and march and protest.’”
His comments came in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade, which ended the constitutional right to abortion.
Julianna saw the comments and responded on social media by saying, “I’m actually 5’11. 6’4 in heels. I wear them so small men like you are reminded of your place.” Gaetz responded by quote-tweeting an article about his comments “raising the dander of his opponents” with a photo of Olivia along with the words “Dander raised…”
Olivia then asked her followers to donate to abortion funds. By Thursday morning, the total was up to $500,000.
Speaking to Teen Vogue, Julianna was asked where she got the confidence to respond publicly to an elected official.
"I don't think I’ve ever said this in an interview but I grew up obsessed with professional wrestling and WWE and I truly believe that my comeback ability and my confidence in times of arguments or attacks 100% comes from years of watching WWE and scripted conflict. In wrestling it’s called “mic work” where pro wrestlers will get on the mic and will be the villain or they’ll be the face which is the good guy. I had years of watching storylines taking on authority figures or “bad guys.” It made me develop a quick wit to respond in this situation. I mean, I was obsessed. I had posters of John Cena. My nana got me into it. She developed Alzheimer’s when she was young but she always remembered how much she loved watching WWE. When I was four or five visiting her house, wrestling was always on the TV. The love for it got instilled in me a young age. I was really into it as a kid," she said.
John Cena famously stood up to authority figures and heels throughout his time on top of the WWE.
Fans can follow Olivia on social media and learn more about her cause by clicking here.
