According to a report from Fox News, Platner made several unusual and explicit posts on Reddit years before launching his Senate bid, with some of the comments resurfacing as Republicans and political observers increasingly examine candidates’ online histories.
One 2017 post reportedly involved a discussion about nostalgic smells connected to military service. In that exchange, Platner wrote that he still felt compelled to masturbate whenever he entered a portable toilet because, as he put it, “that blue water smell conditioned me.”
In another Reddit post several years later, Platner reportedly gave a lengthy and graphic description of phallic graffiti he had seen inside a portable toilet while deployed in the military. The comments included praise for what he described as the image’s artistic detail.
The resurfaced posts add to a growing list of controversies tied to Platner’s old online activity. The Democratic candidate has already spent months attempting to distance himself from earlier Reddit remarks involving race, law enforcement, and political ideology.
Last year, Platner publicly disavowed previous posts in which he referred to white Americans as “racist,” described police officers as “bastards,” and identified himself as a communist.
“I don’t think any of that is indicative of who I am today, really,” Platner said at the time. “I’m not a communist. I’m not a socialist. I own a small business. I’m a Marine Corps veteran.”
He also attempted to explain the tone of his earlier online comments by saying he had simply been “being an assh*le on the Internet.”
Platner further defended himself against criticism over his remarks about police officers, saying he has many friends in law enforcement and insisting his older comments no longer reflected his beliefs.
But controversy surrounding his Reddit history did not end there.
Shortly afterward, Platner was confronted about another old post in which he questioned why black customers “don’t tip” while discussing his experience working as a bartender. The comment reignited criticism over the candidate’s online behavior and judgment.
The mounting controversies have created headaches for Democrats as the party attempts to position candidates for competitive races while also navigating the increasingly permanent nature of internet history. In today’s political environment, years-old social media and message board comments routinely resurface, often overshadowing policy debates and campaign messaging.
Platner also faced criticism last year after being photographed with a tattoo that closely resembled a Nazi SS Totenkopf symbol. Following backlash, he had the tattoo removed and said he was unaware of the symbol’s “Nazi overtones.”
“I don’t want something like that on my body, that is going to make people think I have any kind of ideological similarity to something that is essentially so antithetical to my politics,” Platner said in comments to MSNBC.
He added that he was “more than happy to get it covered up.”
The controversy surrounding Platner highlights the challenges facing modern political candidates, particularly those with extensive online footprints stretching back many years. What may once have been viewed as obscure internet commentary can quickly become national political ammunition in a closely watched campaign.
At the same time, the repeated focus on sensational online posts reflects how modern political discourse increasingly revolves around personal controversies and viral outrage cycles rather than substantive policy issues. Still, for candidates seeking statewide office, voters often view judgment, character, and public conduct as inseparable from the campaign itself.
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