Bette Midler apologizes to West Virginia for calling state 'poor, illiterate, and strung out' in Joe Manchin slam

Bette Midler
(Image credit: SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images)

Bette Midler is issuing an apology for remarks about West Virginia after an "outburst" against Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).

Midler on Twitter slammed Manchin over his announcement that he wouldn't support President Biden's Build Back Better agenda, writing that what he has "done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible." The Hocus Pocus star added, "He sold us out. He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia. Poor, illiterate, and strung out."

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.