Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has faced online criticism after a clip from a 2020 documentary resurfaced in which he says he “hates” Mackinac Island, a well-known Michigan tourist destination. The remarks have drawn attention because of the island’s cultural and symbolic importance within the state, with critics using the clip to question his connection to Michigan voters.

The footage was reportedly rediscovered by The Midwesterner and shows El-Sayed visiting Mackinac Island during filming connected to his 2018 campaign. Fox News described the reaction as an online backlash, while the available article text does not include El-Sayed’s fuller explanation or a response to the criticism.