George Santos embraces his role as an entertainer.
The former congressman from New York, who is facing 23 federal charges and was recently expelled from Congress, is not one to shy away from the spotlight. In fact, he's willing to capitalize on his fame as long as there are people willing to pay for it.
Santos has been cashing in on his notoriety by recording paid messages on Cameo. Recently, he sat down for an interview with Ziwe, a comedian known for her direct and witty interview style.
In the nearly 18-minute interview shared on YouTube, Ziwe asked Santos, "What can we do to get you to go away?"
Santos responded, "Stop inviting me to your gigs."
Ziwe then quipped, "The lesson is to stop inviting you places."
Santos confidently replied, "But you can't. Because people want the content."
According to the video, a day after Santos was expelled, Ziwe reached out to him and proposed a "pay-per-view interview." She assured him that he would be an "iconic guest." Santos agreed, and the two sat down for the interview last week. Interestingly, Santos was not paid for the interview despite asking three times.
"How many stolen credit cards did you use to pay for this look?"
During their conversation, Santos inquired if their microphones were "hot" and advised Ziwe to "be cautious about the DOJ matters."
Santos is currently engaged in discussions with prosecutors regarding a potential plea agreement. He is facing multiple charges, including defrauding campaign donors, providing false information about his wealth to Congress, collecting unemployment benefits while employed, and utilizing campaign funds for personal expenses. These expenses encompassed luxury designer clothing, credit card payments, and car payments.
Although Santos did not explicitly confess to using any of his donors' funds for these purchases, he did inform Ziwe that he was wearing Ferragamo shoes, stating, "I'm well-known for that."
"How many stolen credit cards did you use to pay for this look?" Ziwe questioned. "Ferragamo. Hermès. You also have a taste for the finer things."
Initially, Santos denied owning anything from Hermès apart from cologne.
"That's the only thing I have from Hermès," he responded, before extending his wrist. "Oh, wait, and the bracelet."
"You're literally wearing an Hermès bracelet," Ziwe pointed out. "How did you acquire that one?"
Santos revealed that his husband had gifted him the Botox treatments and fillers he has been receiving since the age of 25. He proudly admitted to never denying it. When asked how he paid for it, Santos confidently replied, "I've always worked, Ziwe. So yeah, my own money. Like everything else I own, my own money." Refusing to engage in petty crimes, Santos dismissed the idea of shoplifting from Sephora or Ulta. With a hint of humor, Ziwe quipped, "White collar."
Santos' knowledge of civil rights icons
During the interview, Santos struggled to identify other civil rights icons. When asked about Marsha P. Johnson, a prominent gay rights activist and self-proclaimed drag queen, Santos described her as a "very respectful, honorable person" and encouraged her to keep going. However, when pressed further about Johnson's impact, Santos responded vaguely, suggesting he may not have been familiar with her. Santos also admitted to not knowing about James Baldwin, a gay Black writer and civil rights activist, as well as Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California.
Ziwe questioned Santos about his thoughts on Marsha P. Johnson, a gay rights activist and self-proclaimed drag queen. Santos described her as a "very respectful, honorable person" and encouraged her to continue her work. When asked about Johnson's specific contributions, Santos responded with a vague answer, indicating he may not have been familiar with her. Santos also admitted to not knowing about James Baldwin, a gay Black writer and civil rights activist, and Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California.
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As the conversation turned towards notable figures in history, one individual expressed their ignorance towards two influential figures. "Who the hell is James Baldwin?" they exclaimed, further admitting that they had "no clue" about Milk either.