Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) engaged in a heated exchange with Fox News Digital reporter Nicholas A. Ballasy, as captured in a video the outlet uploaded on Saturday. The confrontation began when Ballasy approached Massie on the street to inquire about allegations made by Cynthia West, a former staffer who claims to be Massie's ex-girlfriend.
Allegations and Denials
Speaking on Laura Loomer's podcast "Loomer Unleashed" last month, West alleged that Massie pressured her to sign a nondisclosure agreement and bragged about a sexual encounter with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) following the 2024 death of his first wife, Rhonda Howard Massie. When Ballasy asked if the claims were true, Massie responded, "It's all false." The reporter pressed further, questioning why West might be making such statements, particularly in light of Massie's loss in the Republican primary to Ed Gallrein, who was backed by former President Donald Trump.
Massie Turns the Tables
Massie then turned the tables, pulling out his phone to record Ballasy and asking, "So let me ask you, I heard that you like gay porn. Is that true?" Ballasy declined to answer, saying, "I'm not gonna get into that." Massie continued to follow Ballasy as he walked away, shouting, "Come back, man! All you gotta say is you don't like it, that you've never been to those websites." Ballasy replied, "Of course I don't like it," but Massie shot back, "Really? That's not what I heard." Massie also questioned whether Fox News Digital is a real news organization.
Boebert's Previous Reaction
Earlier this month, Boebert similarly lashed out at Ballasy when questioned about the alleged affair. She responded, "Fuck you, first of all! If you're gonna bring me into this, like, this sexist stuff is, like, out of control. So there's your clickbait that you were looking for."
On Sunday morning, Massie posted his own footage of the encounter on social media, captioning it, "Voyeuristic Fox reporter @NicholasBallasy unsure and uneasy when questioned about alleged gay porn watching habit."
