A South Carolina lawmaker took a brief detour into the unanticipated territory of “too much information” at an event hosted by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott this week.
At the 13th annual SC Prayer Breakfast on Wednesday, Rep. Nancy Mace unintentionally put some fellow conservatives in an uncomfortable spot by speaking frankly about sex.
The event, which included speakers such as Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Russell Fry, was held at Charleston’s Citadel Military College and was focused largely on prayer and Christian ideals.
Mace, a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and a longtime conservative Christian, spoke about having to delay her morning rendezvous with her fiancé, Patrick Bryant, in order to make it to the prayer breakfast on time.
“When I woke up this morning at seven, I was getting picked up at 7:45. Patrick, my fiancé, tried to pull me by my waist over this morning in bed and I was like, ‘No, baby, we don’t got time for that this morning. I got to get to the prayer breakfast and I got to be on time,” Mace said as the crowd awkwardly laughed, unsure of how to respond.
“A little TMI,” Mace added.
Mace later apologized for her comments, noting her regret for “inappropriately discussing a personal matter.”
Conservatives are typically vocal about their opposition to having sex outside of marriage, and Mace’s comments unintentionally highlighted the divide between traditional Christian beliefs and the modern realities of life.
Mace’s remarks overshadowed other important discussions at the annual prayer breakfast, including the topics of prayer, faith, and service.
“Events like the SC Prayer Breakfast provide an opportunity to come together and discuss our shared faith and the importance of prayer,” said Mace in a statement.
“I regret that my inappropriate comments unwittingly detracted from that mission, and I apologize to my fellow attendees and to Senator Scott,” Mace added.
While Mace’s comments were unexpected, the Republican lawmaker has received bipartisan praise for her apology and her commitment to conservative Christian values.
“The SC Prayer Breakfast was a reminder of the importance of keeping faith, prayer, and service foremost in our hearts,” Mace said. “We must take opportunities like this to further prioritize these values both in our public discourse and in our personal lives.”
GOP Rep. Nancy Mace tells audience she declined sex this morning to show up at a prayer breakfast: pic.twitter.com/8wwE2lxIMT
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) July 27, 2023
