Jennifer Newsom faces backlash over Earth Day speech mentioning sister’s death, $9M home

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: California's first lady, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, is catching heat after her Earth Day speech took an unexpected turn.

Speaking at a press conference about environmental protection efforts, the wife of Gov. Gavin Newsom opened with an on-message introduction before abruptly bringing up the tragedy.

"Good morning and happy Earth Day. Feliz Día de la Tierra. Today we reflect on our shared home, something so meaningful and yet so often taken for granted and increasingly fragile," she began. "Earth Day reminds us not only to celebrate this land, but to protect California's unparalleled natural beauty, rich cultural and historical resources. It said that California is a place where you can see the whole world in a single day. From the high Sierras to our pristine deserts to the San Joaquin River Parkway, the Golden State encompasses landscapes that deserve to be experienced and preserved for generations to come."

"For me, these places have always been deeply personal. As a girl, nature was my sanctuary, helping me to heal from a horrific accident. And now it's also a sanctuary for the governors and my kids," she continued, adding, "It's why we made a home near the American River, so our kids could experience the healing power of the outdoors. And so it's not surprising that to this day, once my kids enter a state park or a national park, it's really challenging to get them to leave. In fact, Dutch is still inquiring when we're going to return to Yosemite."

The reference to a “horrific accident” wasn’t new, but it landed differently in this setting.

A tragedy that keeps resurfacing

Siebel Newsom has spoken publicly before about the childhood incident. The accidental death of her elder sister, Stacia, dates back to 1981, when a golf cart she was sitting in reversed and fatally struck the 8-year-old.

Earlier this month, the story resurfaced again after she said she referenced it during a discussion with inmates at San Quentin. She said she had a “similar story” to the prisoners, adding that she wasn’t punished “because clearly it was an accident, but theirs was probably an accident, too.”

Siebel Newsom has also previously spoken about the emotional toll of the tragedy. “I felt the pressure to be perfect, to make my parents forget, by being two daughters instead of one," she told the Los Angeles Times in 2023.

According to her, the loss pushed her toward perfectionism.

Critics pounce on Jennifer Newsom online

Her latest comments, however, didn’t land as intended. Critics on social media accused her of repeatedly bringing up the tragedy in ways they found uncomfortable or calculated.

"She sure keeps bringing up killing her sister a lot. Weird flex," one posted on X.

"It's to get ahead of the story, 'If you admit it, you control the narrative.' Gavin 'Grewsom' is planning a presidential campaign for 2028; they need to get ahead of it before it's used against them," another offered.

"Oh man, and the performative Spanish right off the bat. It's all so bad," someone else cringed.

"She's as crazy as her husband. I feel sorry for their children," a comment read.

"Seems like the media loves giving her time because it’s like watching a train wreck in real time. The general question is: how many dumb things can she say that will implode Gavin," another wondered.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.