A routine trip to purchase face wash at an Ulta store unexpectedly became a viral political incident involving South Carolina Republican U.S. Representative Nancy Mace and highlighted her interactions with LGBTQ+ constituents. During the incident in Charleston, Ely Murray-Quick, a local resident, encountered Mace in the skincare aisle. He inquired whether she would be hosting a genuine town hall meeting soon. In response, Mace filmed the interaction, exclaiming obscenities, and later shared the video on social media. She framed Murray-Quick, a gay small-business owner, as the aggressor. However, the video, which has amassed nearly seven million views, depicts Murray-Quick standing calmly at a distance without any threatening behavior.
Mace subsequently pinned the video to the top of her social media profile, using it to galvanize support from her base while portraying herself as a victim of liberal harassment. The encounter led Murray-Quick to reflect on the experience, stating that, as a gay man in South Carolina, he is accustomed to hurtful insults and possesses a resilient demeanor. He noted that Mace’s reaction did not affect him as she might have intended.
The incident unfolded during a typical Saturday when Murray-Quick sought to ask a question of interest to many constituents: when Mace planned to host a real town hall. He expressed dissatisfaction with her recent meetings, which he perceived as lacking in genuine engagement, as she only addressed questions over dinner or by phone, denying South Carolinians the chance to pose substantive questions.
Instead of engaging, Mace began filming and used confrontational language, which Murray-Quick believes reflects her character. He also criticized her for deflecting criticism by highlighting her past votes for marriage equality, arguing that these actions do not absolve her of further accountability on broader issues such as insurance, healthcare, and the education system, which require urgent attention in South Carolina.
In December, Mace accused transgender foster care advocate James McIntyre of assault at a Capitol Hill event, but charges were dropped following a review of video footage and eyewitness accounts. She was also involved in another incident where she and Colorado U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert mistakenly followed a woman into a restroom, believing she was Representative Sarah McBride, the first out transgender member of Congress. Mace remained silent, later using the event to voice her opposition to gender-neutral bathrooms.
In the Ulta video, Murray-Quick maintains there was no physical confrontation, as he kept a respectful distance. He emphasized that his question represented what many South Carolinians desire: accountability from their elected officials. He criticized Mace for holding exclusive meetings and called for open town hall events that allow constituents to voice their concerns directly.
Despite Mace’s attempts to ridicule him on social media, Murray-Quick expressed no remorse for speaking up, attributing his actions to seizing an opportunity that others might pass up. He later reflected on the encounter, recognizing it as a learning experience that has empowered him to continue advocating for change and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community.
As of the time of publication, neither Mace nor her spokesperson had responded to requests for comment on the incident.
