L.A. ‘MAGA Dentist’ Faces Backlash Over Jokes About Harming Liberal Patients
Introduction to the Controversy
A self-proclaimed “MAGA Dentist” is facing backlash after a video of her joking about turning down pain-relieving gas for liberal patients at her Santa Clarita clinic blew up online. Dr. Harleen Grewal of Skyline Smiles made this quip and other wisecracks about her distaste for left-leaning clients during a speech at the Republican Liberty Gala in 2021, comments that recently attracted mass attention after a video of the speech went viral on TikTok. That video has since been taken down, but recorded versions of it and response videos criticizing Grewal continue to circulate.
The Inciting Comments
“I have a secret hat I use sometimes, it says, ‘Make your smile great again,’” she said at the gala. “So I wear that when I work with my patients, when they look horrified or complain, I quietly cut back on the laughing gas.” In the address, she also jokes about missing the days when “the Dems stayed home during COVID with their masks on” as well as liberals’ reaction when they see the photo wall of Republican leaders in the office: “You’d think their butt was on fire. They jump up and take off as if Trump was coming in the room.”
Public Reaction and Backlash
The comments were met with laughter within the context of the Republican gala but have been met with outrage on the internet as well as calls to report Grewal to the California Dental Board. “Dental care by a dentist who acknowledges that she doesn’t control your pain based on your political party? How does she have a license to practice?” wrote one person in a Yelp post. More than 100 one-star reviews were left on her business’ Yelp page this week, with reviewers lambasting her remarks at the gala. Yelp has since temporarily disabled the review function for Skyline Smiles, stating that due to increased attention in the news people are likely to be writing about their personal views as opposed to a firsthand consumer experience.
Response from the Dentist and Authorities
Grewal did not respond to a request for comment and has not issued a recent public statement on the viral video. On Thursday morning, however, she posted a video on the MAGA Dentist and Skyline Smiles Instagram accounts with the caption, “At Skyline Smiles, every patient is family. We treat all of our patients with the same level of care, compassion, and respect because that’s what you deserve!” By Thursday evening, both Instagram accounts were disabled. The California Dental Board said it does not comment on whether complaints are submitted to the board as complaints and investigations are confidential.
Unintended Consequences for Unrelated Businesses
The outrage incited by the videos was so far-reaching that a dental office in Chicago called Skyline Smiles — which has no affiliation with the Santa Clarita business — has received multiple one-star reviews as people online mistake it for Grewal’s dentistry, said Dr. Deepak Neduvelil, who owns the Chicago clinic. Grewal has previously addressed criticisms about her gala jokes and her melding of business and politics. In an op-ed titled “You Can’t Cancel Me” published in the Santa Clarita Valley Signal this month, Grewal said “these attacks have only made me more determined to stand tall, speak louder and fight harder.”
Previous Investigations and Allegations
In the article, Grewal said that the California Dental Board had previously sent an investigator to her clinic after someone accused her of torturing patients who didn’t share her political views — a complaint Grewal said was based on “a lighthearted joke” she made at the Republican Liberty Gala. “My words were twisted, and my career was targeted,” she wrote, “but I didn’t back down.” Grewal also wrote that authorities had investigated her clinic following “completely false and totally unfounded” allegations that she was running an illegal ballot-harvesting operation from her office during the last election cycle.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Dr. Harleen Grewal, the self-proclaimed “MAGA Dentist,” highlights the challenges of mixing politics with professional services, especially in sensitive fields like healthcare. The public’s reaction underscores the expectation that medical professionals will provide care without bias or discrimination. As the situation continues to unfold, it will be crucial to monitor how professional bodies and the community address such incidents to ensure that trust in healthcare services is maintained.
FAQs
Q: What did Dr. Harleen Grewal say that caused controversy?
A: Dr. Grewal joked about turning down pain-relieving gas for liberal patients and made other comments about her distaste for left-leaning clients during a speech at the Republican Liberty Gala in 2021.
Q: How did the public react to Dr. Grewal’s comments?
A: The public reacted with outrage, calling for Dr. Grewal to be reported to the California Dental Board and leaving over 100 one-star reviews on her business’s Yelp page.
Q: Has Dr. Grewal responded to the backlash?
A: Dr. Grewal posted a video stating that all patients are treated with the same level of care and respect, but her Instagram accounts were later disabled. She also wrote an op-ed saying she would not back down from the criticism.
Q: Were there any unintended consequences of the controversy?
A: Yes, a dental office in Chicago with the same name but no affiliation with Dr. Grewal’s clinic received multiple one-star reviews due to the mistake.
Q: What actions have authorities taken regarding Dr. Grewal’s clinic?
A: The California Dental Board has previously investigated complaints against Dr. Grewal, including allegations of torturing patients based on their political views, which she claims were based on twisted interpretations of her jokes. Authorities also investigated allegations of an illegal ballot-harvesting operation, which Dr. Grewal describes as completely false and unfounded.
