While some politicians hire expensive consultants to make themselves look more relatable online, Stacey Abrams does it effortlessly. How? By wearing her fandom heart on her sleeve. Best known for her impressive efforts to fight voter suppression, former Georgia state minority leader Abrams boosted Democratic engagement in the 2020 election. She’s had a busy few years, and alongside her professional achievements she’s attracted attention for being a proud fan of shows like Buffy, Doctor Who and Supernatural.
Abrams attends sci-fi conventions and has mentioned in interviews that she watches nerdy TV to relax. When Supernatural delivered a massive plot twist shortly after 2020 election results came through, fans wondered if she was still planning to catch up with the show. And now, she’s weighing in on an age-old Buffy debate.
For more than a decade, Buffy have been debating which of Buffy’s boyfriends is the best. Angel, the tragic one? Spike, the bad boy? Or if you’re a real deviant… Riley? Anyway, Abrams is apparently a Buffy/Spike shipper, and on Monday she delivered a true politician’s answer to the debate. She argued that both of Buffy’s vampire lovers were good for the slayer at different times in her life.
This is, as we say in the business, a Good Opinion. There are plenty of arguments for and against all the main relationships in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, since most of them were, in one way or another, pretty toxic. Stacey Abrams’ answer is thoughtful and well-informed, showing a chill attitude to pop culture without seeming like she’s pandering to an audience. In other words, she’s using the internet like a normal person with fun hobbies. Other politicians, please take note.