The resurfaced 2019 footage of Democratic Tennessee congressional candidate Aftyn Behn has reignited scrutiny regarding her past activism and public behavior. The video documents a protest at the state capitol in which Behn and members of the activist group Enough Is Enough Tennessee attempted to pressure Republican Gov. Bill Lee to call for the resignation of then-State Rep. David Byrd, who had been accused of sexual misconduct. When the doors to the governor’s office briefly opened, Behn and other protesters rushed forward, prompting security to intervene. The footage shows Behn screaming as officers dragged her away from the governor’s office, after which she fell to her knees in tears while law enforcement cleared the hallway. The intensity of the scene emphasized both her commitment to the issue and the confrontational nature of the demonstration, which culminated in her arrest along with a few other activists who refused to disperse.
Additional video from the same year reveals that Behn continued her activism by interrupting a session of the 111th General Assembly, again demanding Byrd’s resignation. Her conduct in the chamber led to her removal by state troopers, a citation, and subsequent release. These incidents showcased a pattern of direct-action advocacy that, while supported by some, has become a political liability as she campaigns for public office. For opponents, especially within conservative media circles, the footage provides ammunition to characterize Behn as extreme or disorderly. For supporters, however, these episodes may instead reflect passionate engagement on issues of sexual misconduct and government accountability.
Behn’s candidacy places her in a competitive race against Republican Matt Van Epps, a former commissioner under Gov. Lee’s administration, in the special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. The election, scheduled for December 2, follows the resignation of Rep. Mark Green. As Behn seeks broader appeal beyond activist circles, her past public statements are receiving renewed media attention. Among the most controversial are a series of now-deleted tweets from 2020, during the height of the George Floyd protests, in which she appeared to defend or justify the burning of a police station. One such tweet read: “Good morning, especially to the 54% of Americans that believe burning down a police station is justified,” a message that critics argue aligns her with radical anti-police sentiment.
Security escorted her from the chamber, issued her a citation and released her that evening.
Behn was recently confronted on MS NOW regarding these tweets. When pressed on whether she still supported the sentiments she expressed in 2020, Behn declined to directly answer, instead dismissing the line of questioning as “cable news talking points.” She framed the issue more broadly, arguing that communities need localized solutions rather than federal or state overreach. Despite repeated attempts by the anchor to obtain clarification, Behn maintained that she did not remember the tweets and refused to explicitly endorse or disavow them. Her evasiveness invited further criticism, particularly from conservative commentators who portrayed the exchange as evidence of either dishonesty or political opportunism.
This is not the first time Behn has faced backlash for resurfaced remarks. During a 2020 podcast appearance, she expressed intense frustration with Nashville, the very city she now seeks to represent. Her comments included, “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville, apparently,” concluding emphatically with “I hate it.” Opponents have seized on these statements to question whether she genuinely represents the interests and culture of the district. Although the remarks were made in a casual podcast setting, their tone has raised concerns among constituents who feel she may not value the community she hopes to serve.
In response to the renewed attention on her podcast comments, Behn recently attempted to clarify her views in a video posted on X. She softened her language, claiming her frustrations were directed primarily at specific aspects of Nashville’s tourism culture—particularly the “bachelorettes” and “pedal taverns”—rather than the city itself. She also suggested that Republicans were responsible for amplifying the controversy. Still, the combination of her past activism, heated rhetoric, and now-deleted posts poses challenges for her congressional campaign, particularly in a district where conservative messaging is dominant. As the special election approaches, Behn faces the task of appealing to a broader electorate while defending or reframing earlier statements that opponents continue to highlight as examples of radicalism or instability.
