At a Florida wine festival over the weekend, a 41-year-old woman named Selena Chambers was arrested for allegedly throwing a glass of wine at Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz.
Chambers was charged with one count of a party foul, wasting perfectly good wine, and one count of misdemeanor mischief for the mess she created. Gaetz, who was unharmed in the incident, was reportedly “soaked” from the wine and had to change his shirt.
In a statement posted on his website, Gaetz expressed his disappointment over the incident, saying, “I was looking forward to enjoying a nice glass of wine at the festival, but instead, I got drenched by someone who clearly doesn’t know how to hold a glass properly. This is unacceptable behavior, and I hope Ms. Chambers will learn to respect the sanctity of wine in the future.”
Chambers, who has since been released on bond, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her attorney, Jane Smith, told reporters that Chambers was merely trying to offer Gaetz a taste of a new wine she had discovered, but accidentally spilled it on him in the process.
“She didn’t mean any harm, and she certainly didn’t waste any wine intentionally,” Smith said. “We intend to fight these ridiculous charges and clear her name.”
The incident has sparked a heated debate on social media, with some calling for harsher penalties for party fouls at wine festivals, while others argue that Gaetz should have been more careful with his wine glass.
As for Chambers, she says she regrets the incident and hopes to move on from the ordeal.
“I love wine, and I would never intentionally waste it,” she said. “I just hope people can forgive me for my mistake.”
