Michael Eric Dyson calls Nancy Mace a 'fanatic' after congresswoman publishes 'flirtatious' texts he sent her

A South Carolina Republican revealed this week that a liberal CNN guest sent her text messages she described as “flirtatious” following a heated panel discussion about Kamala Harris, sparking an online argument between the two.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., appeared on CNN's August 15 roundtable with liberal author and academic Michael Eric Dyson.

Mace angered Dyson and another guest for mispronouncing Harris' first name, with Dyson claiming it was part of a “history and legacy of white people's disregard for the humanity of black people.”

The two repeatedly interrupted each other, and Mace said Dyson had essentially called her a racist.

But after the tense segment, Mace received text messages from Dyson that were friendlier than their on-air exchanges.

“Psst, don't tell anyone. We look good together!” Dyson sent pictures of the two, followed by loud laughing and kissing emojis.

After the congresswoman laughed at the news, Dyson Mace complimented her appearance, calling her “gorgeous.”

Mace entered the texts into the congressional record on Thursday as part of a discussion that pointed out Democrats who also mispronounced Harris' first name.

Some of the vice president's supporters have accused her opponents of intentionally mispronouncing her name (it is pronounced “COMMA-la,” not “ka-MAL-ah”), a subtle form of racism.

“Bill Clinton, Al Sharpton and rapper Lil John – let's not forget that Joe Biden can't pronounce their names correctly, and neither can Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor,” Mace said Thursday.

“I also want to include in the record a screenshot of a text message I received after my CNN interview from distinguished Vanderbilt professor Michael Eric Dyson, asking me for photos. In that message, after calling me a racist on CNN, he says, 'Shh, don't tell anyone, we look good together.' And he sent me a kiss emoji,” Mace added.

“The guy says I look stunning in all these photos. I don't think he's that bothered by how someone pronounces Kamala. And if we're going to have that standard, we have to hold it to both sides, not just one or the other.”

After Mace sent the text messages in a moment that quickly went viral, Dyson hit back, calling Mace a “bigot and a racist.”

“The ridiculous lies Nancy Mace told to drag my name through the mud because she's angry about being controlled by @VP for her callous disregard… I had no intention of doing anything other than being nice,” he wrote on X.

“And her tears and her mendacity as white women all serve the lies and distortions. I was wrong about one thing: she IS a bigot and a racist.”

Mace responded on her personal X account: “Disregarding a woman's feelings by attributing them solely to the fact that she is a 'white woman' is not only racist, but misogynistic. His comments were (once again) inappropriate. Apologize, take responsibility, and stop blaming the victim. ALL women are sick of this sh*t.”

She also posted on her congressional account: “Second racially motivated breakdown; waiting for the next flirty text message.”

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Mace elaborated on the strange saga.

“This is the height of left-wing hysteria and hypocrisy,” she said.

“As a woman, I am disgusted by his abhorrent and irresponsible response – blaming and shaming the victims. It's like George Stephanopoulos all over again. The real question is: will the management of his network actually step in and hold him accountable?”

CNN noted that Dyson is not employed by the network and declined further comment.

Dyson did not respond to a request for further comment.

Fox News' Gabriel Hays contributed to this report