Country singer Alexis Wilkins is facing a wave of online backlash after weighing in on a deadly Immigration and Customs Enforcement shooting in Minneapolis, with critics accusing her of defending excessive force and injecting politics into a tragic incident.
The controversy stems from a January 6 ICE operation in Minneapolis that ended with an agent fatally shooting a woman as she attempted to drive away from the scene. Video footage circulating online shows agents repeatedly ordering the woman to stop before opening fire. Reports indicate she was not the original target of the operation, a detail that has intensified public scrutiny and outrage.
Wilkins, 27, took to X to voice her stance, sharply criticizing Minnesota’s political leadership and claiming their rhetoric encourages hostility toward law enforcement. In her post, she tagged Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Governor Tim Walz, writing that state leadership promotes “disobedience and violence against law enforcement,” which she argued contributes to deadly outcomes.
Her comments escalated further during a heated exchange with journalist Geraldo Rivera, where Wilkins pushed back against descriptions of the victim as unarmed. She argued that the woman was “armed with a CAR,” a remark that many users interpreted as an attempt to justify the use of lethal force. Screenshots of the exchange spread rapidly, triggering intense criticism and condemnation across social media.
As the backlash grew, some critics shifted from policy arguments to personal attacks, branding Wilkins a “honey pot,” a term suggesting she leverages romantic relationships for political influence. Wilkins has previously denied such claims, but the label resurfaced amid the controversy due to her high-profile relationship with Kash Patel, the current FBI Director.
Wilkins has been publicly linked to Patel since 2023 and has openly supported his political career, including attending his swearing-in ceremony in early 2025. That connection has only amplified the reaction, with critics accusing her of using her platform—and her relationship—to defend law enforcement agencies and shape public narratives around politically charged incidents.
Neither Wilkins nor Patel has issued further statements addressing the backlash. As criticism continues to mount, the incident has become a flashpoint at the intersection of celebrity, politics, and public outrage, drawing national attention far beyond the country music world.
