Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, has responded to circulating rumors about her experiencing a ‘breakdown’ with an update on her health.
The activist was reportedly seen in tears after Harris lost her bid for the presidency to Donald Trump, who is set to assume office as the 47th President of the United States in January 2025.
Emhoff, whose father is Douglas Emhoff, Harris’ husband, shared a photo of herself crying with her family and campaign staff. This led to the spread of unfounded rumors online suggesting she had been admitted to a mental health facility following the election loss.
The speculation about the 25-year-old began on Twitter, where users shared her photo and speculated about her mental health. Emhoff has since addressed these rumors.
On Saturday, November 10, the fashion designer took to Instagram to post a picture of herself holding a ball, with her dog waiting for her to throw it.
She captioned the image with: “There’s a rumor about me having a mental breakdown and getting checked into a hospital. Not true. Also f**k you if you’re out there spreading that. There’s nothing wrong with showing emotion and crying. Anyone who says there is probably needs a good cry.
“I’ve struggled with my mental health my whole life and I’m not ashamed of it.”
To counter claims of her having a breakdown after the Republican victory, she stated: “I’ve literally just been here playing fetch with [my dog] Jerry.”
As the rumor gained traction, Emhoff’s mother, Kerstin Emhoff, criticized those propagating the misinformation on Twitter, saying: “More MAGA bs against my family. Leave my kids alone!!! Ella is doing great and spending a lovely day with her mom!
“Having the ability to show your emotions is something we should all hope for. It’s ok to not feel great right now. We aren’t letting anyone break our family down.”
On Friday, Emhoff shared her feelings about the election outcome, writing: “Truly no words. We are all gonna get through this. It just f**king hurts like a b**ch right now and that’s ok.”
She also encouraged her followers to resist Trump, stating: “The fight doesn’t stop now. Just please check in on your people right now. This is the time to organize, mobilize, and make a difference in your communities big or small. I’m here for you all and love you guys.”
As for Kamala Harris, she delayed her concession speech until the day following the election results.
She told the audience: “To my beloved Doug and our family, I love you so very much.”
During the speech, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff had his arm around his daughter and son and offered a reassuring pat to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate.
Walz appeared emotional during the speech, in which Harris expressed gratitude to him and his family for their contributions to the campaign.
Although the duo performed well in the election, the American electorate ultimately chose the candidate they believed would best serve the nation.