Gov. DeSantis: TikTok toddler dance at Miami drag show puts bar’s liquor license in jeopardy
Image via AP.

SJM-Z-PITTS-OPED-0527
'Having kids involved in this is wrong.'

A 16-second clip showing a toddler in a tiara dancing with a scantily clad drag queen at a Miami establishment has Gov. Ron DeSantis vowing that won’t be allowed in his free state of Florida.

The clip shared on the social media platforms TikTok and Twitter went viral earlier this month and got a mention Wednesday at the Governor’s press conference. He said the establishment, later identified as R House Wynwood, is under investigation through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which may lead to the revocation of its liquor license.

He argued such encounters are part of a disturbing trend that is sexualizing children.

“Having kids involved in this is wrong, that is not consistent with our law and policy in the state of Florida,” he said.

The investigation revealed that not only are children going to the advertised “Drag Brunch,” but there’s a children’s menu, DeSantis said.

”They looked under Florida law, and were able to initiate this procedure that would basically take away the liquor license for that,” DeSantis said.

The owner of the establishment, which Miami New Times awarded “Best Mojito” this year, did not return a call seeking comment. But a spokesperson for R House Wynwood did, and released a statement on behalf of the ownership.

“We are aware of the complaint and are currently working with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, through our attorney, to rectify the situation,” said Larry Carrino, president of Brustman Carrino PR in Miami in an emailed statement.

“We are hopeful that Gov. DeSantis, a vociferous supporter and champion of Florida’s hospitality industry and small businesses, will see this as what it is, a misunderstanding, and that the matter will be resolved positively and promptly.”

Carrino did not respond to a follow up email inquiring about whether the business is currently operating. And Christina Pushaw, the Governor’s spokeswoman, referred questions about the status of the investigation to DBPR. The department responded saying the inquiry was received.

A viral clip from a Dallas Pride Month drag prompted Republican Howey-In-The-Hills Rep. Anthony Sabatini to vow he would file legislation to stop drag shows in the presence of minors. He even called for an “emergency Special Session” on the matter.

In South Florida, drag shows are common enough that Yelp has a listing for the “10 best drag shows” for Wilton Manors. And “age restrictions” aren’t a clickable link, nor are they mentioned on R House Wynwood’s website.

DeSantis said his criticism of the entertainment is part of his fight for Florida to be “where kids can be kids.” That includes efforts to pass the Parental Rights in Education law, which more closely regulates schoolhouse discussions, and measures targeting Disney, which criticized that law.

If there are more of these places where kids are exposed to drag shows, he’s going to take action, he said.

“I think parents, particularly at this time in society’s history, should be able to have their kids go to kindergarten, watch cartoons, just be kids without having some agenda shoved down their throats all the time,” he said. “And that’s what we’re fighting for.”

“People have different views on what they want to do as adults, but it used to be … the kids are off limits,” DeSantis added.

Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani noted that no one has targeted heterosexual content like this.

“You can see the same level of skin at the beach too,” Eskamani said.

She recalled going to a belly-dancing show as a child. She gave the dancer a dollar and no one cared.

“So let’s stop deflecting, attacking LGBTQ+ people and focus on solving real problems vs. creating new ones,” Eskamani said.

Anne Geggis

Anne Geggis is a South Florida journalist who began her career in Vermont and has worked at the Sun-Sentinel, the Daytona Beach News-Journal and the Gainesville Sun covering government issues, health and education. She was a member of the Sun-Sentinel team that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Parkland high school shooting. You can reach her on Twitter @AnneBoca or by emailing [email protected].


47 comments

  • Joe Corsin

    July 27, 2022 at 3:04 pm

    Vote RED for abominable far right filthy filthys..

    • Impeach Biden

      July 27, 2022 at 3:25 pm

      This is what the leftists want. Look at the four year old lefty that tried to shoo the police in Salt Lake City, UT. How about the lefty in Diapers in Minneapolis cussing at the police. The product of another lefty family where there are no family values. Resisting arrest gives you street cred. That’s what the lefty’s want.

      • Joe Corsin

        July 27, 2022 at 5:17 pm

        ^ Ladies and gentlemen give a round of applause to……. ABOMINABLE GREASY GREASY!!!!!!!

      • Middle of the Road

        July 27, 2022 at 6:15 pm

        How foolish. Not Hooters, not Twin Peaks… Not the church where we know priests have had a long history of indoctrinating kids… but a drag show… parents already have the power to not go… so don’t make the decision for parents… especially with hate in your hearts. The insecurity on the right when it comes to different groups is disgusting… that four year old probably watched a clip of Tucker laughing at a January Sixth Law Enforcement offer get beat to death… and decided it was funny.

        • Tom

          July 30, 2022 at 1:17 pm

          Middle nothing. That’s all you find in the middle of the road, is dead skunks.

          Liar, pathetic, no police officer was beat to death, but a veteran was shot to death and killed, you lap dog.

          You obviously are aware of seedy establishments. They are loosely licensed rests. If they engage in tawdry or unlawful behavior, they are susceptible to losing license.

          As for drag shows, children are not to be victimized as minors. At church or elsewhere. Bars are off limits to minors, even if it serves food.

          So save your filth and hate.
          It is despicable that you and your Manchurian nation defend this filth.

          Board it up, pull license and shut it down. Oh engage in your lewd behavior in some private quarters.
          Despicable.

    • John Doee

      July 27, 2022 at 7:26 pm

      Your AIDS medication and your crack cocaine are causing you to make even less sense than you normally do. Shutty uppy!?

  • PeterH

    July 27, 2022 at 4:09 pm

    Ron DeSantis

    THE FREEDUMB STATE OF FLORIDA’S MORALITY POLICE!

    Vote DeSantis and all Republicans out of office!

    • Impeach Biden

      July 27, 2022 at 4:14 pm

      Yup. The squad, Newsom, Hank Johnson, Jerry Nadler, Elizabeth Warren, Maxine Waters. Real geniuses on the “BLUE” side. I could go on.

      • Tjb

        July 27, 2022 at 4:23 pm

        Greene, Cawthorn, Boebert, Gaetz , and a long list of fools…. Should I go on?

      • Tjb

        July 27, 2022 at 4:26 pm

        Gaetz, Greene, Cawthorn, Boebert…. Should I continue?. Freedom only if you agree with DeSantis.

      • Tjb

        July 27, 2022 at 4:45 pm

        Gaetz, Greene, Cawthorn, Boebert…. Should I continue?. Freedom only if you agree with DeSantis

        • Tb

          July 27, 2022 at 4:46 pm

          Why is the comment being deleted
          Gaetz, Greene, Cawthorn, Boebert…. Should I continue?. Freedom only if you agree with DeSantis

        • Tom

          July 30, 2022 at 9:22 am

          Warren, AOC, Sanders, mullah Omar, Tjlab, and several other extremists own and out perform Repubs.
          Nola contedre ! U pathetic Manchurians own it!

      • Elliott Offen

        July 27, 2022 at 5:21 pm

        Newsom/Sanders 2024! Trump will be indicted soon…and you pro crime sociopaths will be annihilated by the Army next time you pull a J6 super massive terrorist attack.

        • Tom

          July 30, 2022 at 1:22 pm

          Elliott idiot!

          Ex potus 45 will be indicted after degenerate son, Hunter will be indicted, convicted, sentenced and served. Full of shit moron Elliot, idiot!
          Call Soros.

  • Just a comment

    July 27, 2022 at 4:17 pm

    Looked strip joint to me

  • tom palmer

    July 27, 2022 at 5:05 pm

    What a tight-ass reaction to something was forgettable for the child. Save us from prissy politicians.

    • John Doe

      July 27, 2022 at 7:28 pm

      When yer on the side of trannys parading naked in front of toddlers, you really should reevaluate your position. Course that was probably you in the tranny outfit…

      • Joe Corsin

        July 28, 2022 at 7:30 am

        ^ Abominable far right sub-ape. Rather parade with trannys than this guy..and of course rated XXX Donald Trump.

        • John Doe (Joe Xiden is a corrupt pedophile)

          July 31, 2022 at 1:43 pm

          OF COURSE you’d rather parade with trannys. Yer an anti-American groomer. It’s not enough that you are perverted, you have to drag the children into your perversion…

      • Mrs. Modela

        August 2, 2022 at 3:46 am

        Bet you didn’t have a single word of condemnation when Trump’s “Grab em by the pussy” tape went public…

  • MtotheI

    July 27, 2022 at 5:35 pm

    Close all the beaches! Kids might see a boob or a butt in a bikini or thong. Actually, all women must be completely covered at the beach or DeSantis will arrest you for sexualizing kids.

  • Middle of the Road

    July 27, 2022 at 6:22 pm

    Mind you… Republicans have cultivated Florida Society for the last 30 years and now create solutions to problems that don’t exist to take away from the homeowners insurance crisis.

  • Joe Corsin

    July 27, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    Rather kids parade with trannys than neo nazis, anti-government terrorists, violent and stupid rednecks, and other Republican hog grifters….

  • slb

    July 28, 2022 at 7:06 am

    The free state of Florida brought to you by Der Dwarf

  • Summer Mitchell

    July 28, 2022 at 8:13 am

    Has he ever watched Toddlers and Tiaras? Talk about sexualizing children….will he have that show and those moms investigated?

    • Mrs. Modela

      August 2, 2022 at 3:49 am

      All those poor little girls from primarily red states prancing around like hookers and I bet these people don’t have a single thing to say about that. Hypocrisy thy name is Republican…

  • Louisa

    July 28, 2022 at 2:22 pm

    whoever the girl’s parent(s) are allowed this. The girl is not in any kind of distress and Florida restricting this may be a violation of free speech. By this same token people like J Lo and other celebrities go “bare” far worse than this and is in the media, and people wearing scanty clothing at beaches should also be banned?

  • Artfart

    July 28, 2022 at 7:41 pm

    This behavior seems a little strange to me!

  • Tom

    July 30, 2022 at 9:19 am

    Pull the license, board the rest and filth and scum up! You pathetic Manchurians are decrepit in mind and spirit.

    We have laws, you cannot wait on or serve children in bars. Drag shows not lawful for minors. Exploiting children sexually is a crime!
    You disgusting 5 percenters can vote for the immoral gov candidates! Go to hell!

    Thank God for Gov Kahones!

  • marylou

    July 31, 2022 at 2:14 pm

    If you see anything sexual in this, YOU are a PERVERT.

    Just look at the people having lunch there, no orgies going on, nothing for ron to get ALL EXCITED over, or drip spit on his tie about.

    The place is a respected RESTAURANT with great reviews, what appears to be good food, and even featured on stodgy NBC tee-vee as a place to have brunch and watch a funny drag show. It’s not an “adult” place, and it’s not a bar. Look at their website. Don’t just fall for PERVERT RON’s manipulating moRONacy.

    • Tom

      July 31, 2022 at 8:39 pm

      Shut the fuck up, you Bitch!
      They don’t get to invent own rules.
      You and the rest of the Manchurians are the ones of hate. Check the web, yeah they’ll promote the orgies on the web. You dumb ass

      • Mrs. Modela

        August 2, 2022 at 3:51 am

        My…so hostile! Bet you didn’t have a single word of condemnation when Trump’s “Grab em by the pussy” tape went public, did you?

        • John Doe

          August 2, 2022 at 7:53 pm

          Trump actually said “when you are rich, women [such as you you mindless twit] LET YOU grab ’em by the [hoohah].” And he is not incorrect.

          It’s rather simple here in FL. We have laws. One law is that children are not allowed in bars. You are just excusing them because you are a groomer too, ain’t ya!?

          • Mrs. Modela

            August 2, 2022 at 9:03 pm

            As if he weren’t speaking about himself lol You people will turn yourselves inside out to make excuses for Trump, along with other perverts, pedophiles, murderers and every other kind of human garbage. You’re not even capable of debating something without resorting to ad hominem attacks. That’s a strong indicator of low IQ and low interpersonal intelligence. No wonder you shill for the most morally corrupt con artist this country has ever produced. You’re just not very bright…

          • marylou

            August 3, 2022 at 4:16 pm

            Actually, it looks like a RESTAURANT WITH a bar, kind of like all those other restaurants with bars where parents and kids have lunch or dinner.

            Who’s grooming–and for what? You can’t really believe this desantis grooming distraction!?!

        • JOhn Doe

          August 3, 2022 at 2:06 pm

          A skank who is sticking up for perverts dancing nearly nude in front of small children is lecturing me on something Trump said. Then the idiot goes on to lecture me about “ad hominem attacks” as she attacks my intelligence. Go back to your crack babies from several different baby daddies.

          • marylou

            August 3, 2022 at 4:55 pm

            Quit trying to make women feel like there is something shameful about their bodies, trans or otherwise.

            That dancer was not behaving in a sexual manner. If you had some kind of…..response….. to her, don’t be like the rapist who cries “look how she was dressed!” No more big Scarlet A’s on women you are attracted to, but can’t have.

            And, please, ron & the rest, stop projecting your perversions onto other people.

      • marylou

        August 3, 2022 at 3:58 pm

        ABUSIVE PERVERT

        This behavior is why you have so much free time, Legend.
        This is why you can’t get a girlfriend, and have to spend all day & all night insulting your intellectual and moral superiors on FP ….Life of celibacy for tommie

  • marylou

    August 1, 2022 at 5:57 pm

    Somebody’s been watching too many dirty movies

  • Mrs. Modela

    August 2, 2022 at 3:39 am

    I personally wouldn’t take my small child to a drag show but it’s also not the end of the world. Kids are exposed to far worse in video games like GTA and CoD. But all of that aside, what happened to DeSantis’ battle cries for parental rights? Shouldn’t this ultimately be a parent’s decision? Or is the government now deciding how we will raise our children? Ron DeSantis’ alleged “free” state of Florida is nothing more than marketing nonsense…particularly when the nanny state government wants to legislate every parenting decision.

    • John Doe

      August 2, 2022 at 7:56 pm

      NO, you mindless fool, some things are NOT simply the parent’s decision. Want me to allow my kids to play with guns? Or play in the streets? Or even make kiddie porn? We have laws in the books, and have for probably decades, that kids can’t go to bars, no matter what their ignorant parents may wish. God please tell me that you haven’t procreated, because you are dumb as dirt.

      • Mrs. Modela

        August 2, 2022 at 9:08 pm

        I have procreated, and not with my sibling, like I suspect your parents did. My kids are college graduates with excellent careers, no student loan debt thanks to full scholarships and are active members of our church. Basically, they’re intelligent, kind, successful contributing members of society. Bet yours are working a corner in Methville, FL lol

        • John Doe

          August 3, 2022 at 2:08 pm

          Suuuuuuure. Any man dumb enough to stick his Schiff in you has earned my pity…

          • marylou

            August 3, 2022 at 4:24 pm

            Go practice that stick thing on yourself

          • Tom

            August 7, 2022 at 6:31 pm

            LMAO
            Great one Garry cooper, I mean John Doe. Hysterical.
            Mary who is filth.

  • Tom

    August 7, 2022 at 6:27 pm

    Go hang with naughty Nikki fraud.
    Ask Gov Cuomo, the love guv to bend over.
    Ask him to grab some P, thighs, ass and breasts. U r a sick one Mary lou. To bad your mommy did abort you,, you love abortion so much. Or sell you as a sex slave. Find an illegal.

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories