Browne Dismisses Altered Image, Says ‘We Don’t Discriminate’

Prime Minister and Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) leader Gaston Browne has brushed off a digitally altered image circulating online that appeared to show him kissing ABLP Barbuda candidate Kendra Beazer, saying he was not concerned and using the moment to underscore his stance on inclusivity.

Speaking on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne Show, Browne acknowledged the image directly and said he chose to repost it on his own social media account rather than react defensively.

“I’m sure you saw… they had me and Kendra… kissing,” Browne said. “So I posted it on my Facebook page.”

He said the image did not affect him, adding that such attacks are not worth serious attention.

“When you’re a real man, you’re not worried about them stuff,” Browne said.

The prime minister framed the incident within a broader message about non-discrimination, saying he does not support targeting individuals based on identity.

“We don’t discriminate,” he said, adding that he supports people across different backgrounds and communities.

Browne said the reaction to his post included messages of support, including from individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community across the Caribbean.

“Some of them actually posted to my page… ‘If I was in Antigua, I’d vote for you,’” he said.

He also suggested that those responsible for circulating such content were misjudging public sentiment.

“They just keep making these silly mistakes,” Browne said.

The image, which appears to have been generated or altered digitally, circulated during an active election campaign, drawing attention on social media platforms.

Browne used the moment to reiterate his broader position on inclusivity, saying he supports “Rasta, dreadlocks, young, old, everybody,” and that discrimination has no place in society.

The incident highlights the growing role of manipulated digital content in political discourse, as candidates and parties navigate misinformation and online campaigning in the lead-up to elections.