Second gentleman Doug Emhoff has come under fire following revelations of a past affair with his family’s nanny, a scenario seemingly glossed over in an interview in which he was lauded for his supposedly progressive views on masculinity.

Emhoff, husband to Vice President Kamala Harris, was critiqued on social media -- alongside MSNBC's Jen Psaki -- for the sit-down in which he was heralded for his views on gender roles, despite the affair that resulted in a pregnancy, as Fox News reports.

Psaki commended Emhoff for allegedly redefining traditional views on masculinity. The former Biden press secretary, pointing out his role as a supportive spouse, asked Emhoff about his thoughts on the evolution of masculinity.

During the interview, Emhoff spoke about supporting women's issues and mentioned his personal evolution in views over time.

"It's funny. I’ve started to think a lot about this. I’ve always been like this. My dad’s always been like this. To me, it’s the right thing to do, support women," Emhoff reflected.

However, the conversation took a different turn on social media, where users brought up his past affair.

The controversy stems from a report by the Daily Mail that detailed Emhoff's relationship with his family’s nanny during his first marriage, which ended in 2008.

Revelations From Emhoff's First Marriage

Emhoff admitted to the affair shortly after the report, acknowledging that during his first marriage to Kerstin Emhoff, the relationship with the nanny led to a pregnancy, though the child was not kept.

He spoke of the affair as a significant strain on his marriage, which ended due to "irreconcilable differences."

"During my first marriage, Kerstin and I went through some tough times on account of my actions. I took responsibility, and in the years since, we worked through things as a family and have come out stronger on the other side," Emhoff said.

The Biden campaign was reportedly aware of this aspect of Emhoff's past during the vetting process in 2020, suggesting the affair was considered in Harris's selection as Joe Biden's running mate. Kamala Harris, who married Emhoff in 2014, was also aware of his past before their marriage.

Criticism Towards Psaki's Interview Approach

Many on social media called the MSNBC interview a "softball" event and questioned Psaki's integrity as a journalist. Critics like Joe Concha and End Wokeness on X expressed disdain, with Concha remarking, "Emhoff also once impregnated his child's nanny. Jen still says she's a journalist."

This criticism pointed to a perceived disconnect between the personal history discussed and the themes of the interview.

"​​Psaki to Doug Emhoff: ‘You reshaped the perception of masculinity’ PS: He impregnated his kid's nanny," posted End Wokeness on X, highlighting the irony seen by some viewers.

Despite the criticism, Emhoff tried to focus on current issues, discussing the importance of supporting women, especially in the context of recent political changes. "When we lift up women, we support women, whether it’s pay equity, child care, family leave, and all of these issues in this post-Dobbs hellscape," he stated during the interview.

Public and Private Reactions to the Affair

While public reactions were mixed, the private consequences of the affair have been long resolved, according to Emhoff. He detailed how his family dealt with the affair and came out stronger, suggesting personal growth from the ordeal.

Fox News Digital sought comments from the Harris campaign regarding the interview and Emhoff's past but did not receive an immediate response.

The controversy underscores the complexities of public figures navigating personal histories while in the spotlight, particularly when those past actions clash with public statements and perceived values.