Fact Check: Out of context video surfaces to muddy waters in Hilton Head council race
A Hilton Head Island resident recently posted an old 30-second clip on Nextdoor of town council member Alex Brown in a council meeting as he discussed considering the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts shown in Myrtle Beach. The video, although first posted a week ago, is over two years old.
The clip, which was edited on the video app CapCut, had the bright red words “Alex Brown wants HHI to be like Myrtle Beach.” The video shows Brown suggesting to incorporate Myrtle Beach’s DEI approach, which aims to create a more inclusive and fair workplace, in the town’s 2023-2025 strategic plan. However, this brief 30-second clip only represents a small portion of a five-minute discussion, resulting from the best practices learned from a state-wide conference.
Hilton Head Island resident Steven Even, who lives in Ward 1’s Hilton Head Plantation, posted the video on Sept. 11, 2024 garnering 34 comments, while a repost by another resident a few days later received 55 comments, some of which addressed the DEI efforts mentioned directly in the clip. However, Even said that this was not his focus; rather, it was the comparison to Myrtle Beach that concerned him.
“It’s election season, so we’re looking through different videos from the town council meetings and we came across that and I was like ‘wow,’ I just thought it was odd for that comment to be made,” he said.
Overdevelopment of the island has been Even’s main concern, which is why he donated $500 to Brown’s challenger for Ward 1, Daniel Anthony, due to his campaign’s “resident-focused future.”
Anthony and Brown, who are both running for the Hilton Head Town Council Ward 1 seat, have not seen the video, with Anthony saying “I don’t do social media at all and this is exactly why.” He went on to say he had nothing to do with the creation or posting of the video.
Brown expressed dismay, saying, “It’s disappointing to see my current opponent’s supporters resort to disinformation and clickbait tactics, which only divide our community. I will continue to lead a campaign focused on the issues.”
What was the video about?
The video features a Hilton head Town council meeting held on August 16, 2022. During the meeting, Brown reflected on the council’s attendance at the Municipal Association of South Carolina conference in Charleston, which took place in mid-July 2022.
During the conference, some council members including Brown attended sessions on civility and on diversity, equity and inclusion, including one produced by Myrtle Beach, which has its own DEI program and dedicated office.
Brown emphasized at the council meeting that DEI is not something to fear and highlighted Myrtle Beach’s proactive approach as a model.
“I learned a couple things during that session,” Brown said. “First and foremost, DEI is not a monster. I say that again, DEI is not a monster.”
He encouraged the council and the human resource department to consider incorporating DEI into their strategic planning and to embrace similar initiatives. Using an analogy of children of different heights trying to watch a baseball game over a fence, he explained the concept of equality and urged his fellow council members to support DEI efforts as vital to the town’s growth and unity.
DEI is not specifically mentioned in the town’s 2023-2025 strategic plan; however, the plan includes a page outlining values such as inclusivity, safety and diversity, emphasizing a people-centered approach to the kind of community the town aspires to be.
This story was originally published September 19, 2024 at 11:58 AM.
