Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has publicly accused liberal professor and commentator Michael Eric Dyson of sending flirtatious text messages following a televised argument between the two.

Mace's accusations, which were revealed during a House Oversight Committee hearing, have led to a public exchange of accusations about the texts, with Dyson disputing Mace’s claims and accusing her of lying and racism, as Breitbart reports.

The dispute between Mace and Dyson began in August during a CNN News Night segment hosted by Abby Phillip. During the segment, Dyson criticized Mace for mispronouncing Vice President Kamala Harris’s name.

This heated exchange apparently continued privately, as Mace revealed during Thursday’s committee hearing, when she introduced screenshots of text messages from Dyson into the official record.

According to Mace, Dyson complimented her appearance and made flirtatious remarks in these text exchanges. After their televised debate, the two had taken photos together, which were later shared between them.

In the texts, Dyson allegedly told Mace, “we look good together” and, in another message, added, “your gorgeousness makes the photos.” Mace ridiculed Dyson’s comments, presenting the texts as evidence of inappropriate behavior following a public disagreement.

Mace Reveals Flirty Comments in Texts

Dyson responded quickly to Mace’s claims, taking to social media to both admit and defend the messages he had sent. He acknowledged sending the texts but refuted Mace’s interpretation of their intent.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Dyson accused Mace of distorting the context of their exchange, claiming, “The ridiculous lies told by Nancy Mace in the effort to smear my name because of her anger at being checked for her insensitive disregard for @VP.”

Mace, on the other hand, took to social media to mock Dyson and his defense. On her platform, she sarcastically contrasted the behavior of conservative and liberal men, suggesting that conservatives would “at least buy us a drink first,” while “leftists” call women racists before sending flirtatious messages. Her posts seemed to resonate with her followers, as she continued to lampoon Dyson’s alleged advances.

The specific text messages between Dyson and Mace came after the pair’s heated argument on CNN, in which Dyson had called Mace’s mispronunciation of Kamala Harris’s name insensitive. Following this argument, the two took photographs together, which Mace later shared as part of her evidence of Dyson’s flirtatious behavior. In the texts that followed, Dyson complimented Mace, calling her “gorgeous” and remarking that the two “look good together.”

Dyson Strikes Back, Accuses Mace of Racism

Mace used these texts to build her case against Dyson, framing them as an example of inappropriate flirtation by a man who had just publicly criticized her on national television.

“Dyson begged me for photos, in this text, after calling me a racist on CNN,” Mace declared during the hearing. She went on to quote the text, where Dyson wrote, “shh, don’t tell anybody, we look good together,” adding a kissy emoji to his message. Mace’s dramatic presentation of the texts aimed to underscore the apparent contradiction between Dyson’s public criticism and his private compliments.

Dyson was quick to respond to Mace’s allegations, not only disputing her characterization of the texts but also accusing her of lying and engaging in racist behavior.

In an Instagram reel, Dyson directly addressed the issue, accusing Mace of using “white women’s tears” to distort the narrative around their interaction. “I had no intent with her to do anything but be nice,” Dyson stated, before adding, “And her white women’s tears and mendacity are all in the service of lies and distortions.”

Dyson’s comments did not stop there. He escalated his critique of Mace by accusing her of outright racism, writing, “I was wrong about one thing: she IS a bigot and racist.” The inflammatory nature of Dyson’s accusations further fueled the ongoing dispute between the two, with both sides firmly entrenched in their respective positions.

Political Figures’ Dispute Gains Online Attention

As the public feud continued to escalate, social media users on both sides weighed in on the controversy. Mace, known for her sharp-witted social media presence, continued to poke fun at Dyson, contrasting his alleged flirtation with her public statements against him. On X, she posted a sarcastic comment, ridiculing leftist men for calling women racists before attempting to flirt with them. Her posts generated significant engagement, with supporters cheering on her humorous take on the situation.

Meanwhile, Dyson’s posts also drew attention, particularly his accusations of racism against Mace. His critiques of Mace, framed around themes of racial sensitivity and accountability, seemed to resonate with his supporters, many of whom echoed his sentiments online. The back-and-forth between Mace and Dyson highlighted the growing polarization in American political discourse, where personal conflicts can quickly become public spectacles.

As of now, neither party has shown any signs of backing down from their respective positions. The confrontation between Nancy Mace and Michael Eric Dyson continues to unfold both in the political arena and across social media platforms.