Governor's Shark Week' DNC Quip Inspires Gift Box, Branded Merch

By Brendan Menapace

Michigan might not have any sharks in its lakes, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is still celebrating Shark Week. And, in turn, Discovery Channel is celebrating her hot mic moment at the DNC by sending her a bunch of “Shark Week” merchandise.

During a speech at the convention, Gov. Whitmer was caught on mic saying “It’s not just Shark Week, it’s Shark Week, [expletive that rhymes with “Brother Tucker”].”

The Discovery Channel caught wind of this and, despite the sailor talk, sent Gov. Whitmer a fun gift box commemorating what, apparently, is the highlight of the TV calendar for her.

Thank you to my friends at @SharkWeek for the swag! 🦈 pic.twitter.com/5QoBVh3QNn

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) August 22, 2020

And since we live in a world where word travels fast and you have to capitalize on every meme that buzzes across social media, other companies are borrowing Gov. Whitmer’s line for different products.

Traverse City, Michigan-based T-shirt company Tee See Tee put the phrase on a T-shirt, and says it will donate 10 percent of the proceeds to FinFighters.org, which helps ban shark hunting for the sake of fins.

"Shark Week means a lot of things to a lot of people, but during an accidental mic drop last night, Governor Gretchen Whitmer turned it into something entirely different!" Tee See Tee’s website says. "Celebrate our great governor’s enthusiasm, or just celebrate sharks, we don’t care, just buy the T-shirt!"

Detroit-based Well Done Goods has also released a face mask playing off of the poster for “Jaws” with Gov. Whitmer’s line.

“Oh 2020, it sure is a bloodbath out there,” the product description says.

Shark Week might be over, but thanks to enthusiasm from Gov. Whitmer and other Michigan companies, her DNC moment will live on.

It’s definitely a little different than other DNC merchandise.