Bobby Williams wants to be governor of Florida.
In a video recorded by the TikTok account @florida.speaks during a political event, someone asked him about paid maternity leave. Williams did not hesitate: he said he does not support it, that “we have created a lazy generation” and that women could return to work “a day or two” after giving birth. When asked again how far social support should go, he responded with another question: “when we start supporting things, when does it end?”.
The former minister and activist, who presents himself as someone outside traditional politics, asserted that working to escape poverty is “a sacrifice” that every person must make. But in the comments on the video, the response was unanimous: users pointed out the contradiction of defending a “pro-family” message while denying rest to a mother who has just given birth. “They’re worried that the birth rate is low, but they can’t take care of women who have babies… it’s disgusting”, one person wrote. Another was more direct: it was the worst answer he could have given.