ATLANTA — California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s book tour stop in Atlanta turned into a national flashpoint on Sunday after comments he made during a conversation with Mayor Andre Dickens drew accusations of racism from conservative critics.

The event, held at the Rialto Center for the Arts and hosted by A Cappella Books, was part of Newsom’s promotion for his new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery.

Newsom Sparks Controversy in Atlanta with Remarks on Dyslexia and SAT Scores

During the onstage discussion, Newsom sought to connect with the predominantly Black audience by sharing personal anecdotes about his academic struggles, which he attributes to lifelong dyslexia. “I’m not trying to impress you. I’m just trying to impress upon you, ‘I’m like you. I’m not better than you.’ I’m a 960 SAT guy,” Newsom said, referring to his low score on the college entrance exam.

He added, “And I’m not trying to offend anyone; I’m not trying to act all there if you got 940 … You’ve never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech.”

The remarks quickly went viral after a clip was shared online, which framed the comments as Newsom telling a “black crowd” that he is “like you” because he “can’t read.”

The post garnered over 40 million views, igniting a firestorm of criticism from Republicans and right-leaning commentators who accused Newsom of perpetuating racist stereotypes about Black intelligence and literacy.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), a prominent Black conservative, lambasted Newsom on X, calling the comments a “self-own” and implying they revealed underlying bigotry.

Florida Rep. Randy Fine echoed the sentiment, stating, “Gavin Newsom just said he is like a black person because he got a bad SAT score and can’t read.”

Outkick founder Clay Travis described it as “racist,” while rapper Nicki Minaj weighed in, accusing Newsom of “bonding with black ppl” by implying they are “stupid” and slowing down his speech.

Mayor Dickens, who moderated the event, appeared engaged during the exchange, nodding and laughing at points, according to video footage.

However, some observers noted a brief awkward reaction on Dickens’ face before he responded positively.

Dickens has not publicly commented on the controversy, but the event was billed as “An Evening with Gavin Newsom and Andre Dickens,” highlighting the mayor’s role in welcoming the California governor to Atlanta.

Newsom, who graduated from Santa Clara University in 1989, has long discussed his dyslexia publicly, framing it as a challenge that did not define his success.

In a heated response on X, he pushed back against the accusations, calling out critics for “fake f–ing outrage” and pointing to past instances of racism from Republicans, such as former President Donald Trump’s comments on African nations and an ape video involving Barack Obama.

“You didn’t give a s–t about the President of the United States of America posting an ape video of President Barack Obama or calling African nations s—holes — but you’re going to call me racist for talking about my lifelong struggle with dyslexia?” Newsom wrote.

Supporters argue the remarks were self-deprecating and taken out of context, emphasizing Newsom’s intent to inspire by showing that personal setbacks do not limit potential. “I have dyslexia, right. I mean, I—I struggled, uh, in school. I still struggle reading, to this day. But I didn’t let that define me,” Newsom elaborated in the full context of the discussion.

The incident comes amid Newsom’s multi-state book tour, which has fueled speculation about his ambitions for a 2028 presidential run. 0 Earlier that day, Newsom endorsed former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for Georgia governor, adding a political layer to his visit.

In his remarks, Newsom also urged Democrats to “fight fire with fire” against the Trump administration, positioning himself as a combative voice for the party.

Locally, the controversy has sparked debate among Atlanta residents about race, politics, and representation.

As a key figure in the event, Mayor Dickens’ involvement places Atlanta at the center of a broader national conversation on how Democratic leaders engage with Black voters in the South.

Critics on social media have called the moment a “major political misstep,” while others defend it as an honest attempt at relatability.

The Atlanta Daily News reached out to Mayor Dickens’ office for comment but has not received a response as of publication. Newsom’s team reiterated that the governor’s comments were about his personal experiences with dyslexia and not intended to offend.