Rep. Brad Sherman says Elon Musk’s X algorithm is responsible for serving him saucy images after he was photographed viewing lingerie-clad women on a flight. Here’s what he said and why the photos went viral.
Rep. Brad Sherman Blames Elon Musk’s X Algorithm After Being Caught Viewing Saucy Images on a Flight
A political firestorm erupted this week after Rep. Brad Sherman, a California Democrat serving in Congress since 1997, was photographed looking at multiple images of lingerie-clad women on his tablet while flying. The pictures circulated widely online after being posted by the Dear White Staffers account on X (formerly Twitter), a platform that frequently exposes alleged misconduct among Capitol Hill staffers and lawmakers. The post quickly gained traction, eventually being amplified by Donald Trump Jr., adding fuel to a controversy that has since ballooned across social media.
But Sherman says the situation has been blown out of proportion—and he’s placing the blame squarely on Elon Musk’s algorithm.
“The Pictures Came Up on ‘For You’”: Sherman Defends Himself
Speaking to Punchbowl News journalist John Bresnahan, Sherman claimed the images were not something he intentionally searched for. Instead, he said they appeared automatically in his X feed due to the platform’s algorithmic “For You” page.
“This was on Twitter. These pictures came up on ‘For You.’ I must’ve looked at more than 1,000 posts,” Sherman explained.
X’s For You tab is a curated, algorithm-driven feed designed to show a blend of new and old posts from accounts users follow and—Importantly—from accounts they don’t follow. These recommendations are based on a user’s browsing patterns, past interactions, and engagement history.
How X Decides What Users See
According to social media insights platform Social Bee, the For You tab is shaped by:
- A user’s previous likes, replies, and retweets
- Posts engaged with by people in that user’s network
- Popular viral content circulating across the platform
The goal is to serve content that X believes a user will find interesting—even if it comes from complete strangers. However, many users, including Sherman, say the algorithm often behaves unpredictably.
When asked whether he thought the images crossing his screen were inappropriate, Sherman responded:
“Is it pornography? I don’t think Elon Musk thinks so. Is it appropriate? No.”
X Classifies Lingerie Images as Adult Content
Under X’s Terms of Service, images of women in lingerie are classified as “adult content,” which includes:
- Partial nudity
- Revealing clothing
- Close-ups of breasts, buttocks, or genitals
Users can opt out of seeing such content by turning off “media that may contain sensitive content” in their settings, though it’s unclear whether Sherman had those filters enabled.
In the widely shared photos, multiple images of scantily clad women appear sequentially in his timeline, suggesting a pattern of relevant algorithmic recommendations.
Sherman: “Might I Look Longer at a Woman than a Sunset? Yeah.”
Despite the uproar, Sherman admitted he wasn’t bothered by the images themselves.
“If I see a picture of a woman, might I look at it longer than a sunset? Yeah,” the 71-year-old congressman said.
His candid comment quickly circulated on social media, sparking a mixture of humor, criticism, and political commentary.
Is This About the Epstein Files? Sherman Thinks So
In a response to The Daily Beast, Sherman shifted the narrative in a more political direction. He accused Donald Trump Jr., the White House press office, and the broader MAGA movement of using the situation to distract from calls to release the Epstein files.
“Simply put — Donald Trump Jr., the White House and MAGA are trying to divert from releasing the Epstein files,” Sherman said.
“This was nothing more than scrolling through Twitter — and unfortunately Elon Musk has ruined the Twitter algorithm to give people content that they don’t ask for or subscribe to.”
He added:
“Don Jr. and the White House press office are pushing this story when there is no story. Shame on Don Jr., shame on the White House, shame on MAGA. They ought to join the bipartisan demands to release the Epstein files — now.”
Musk’s Algorithm Already Under Scrutiny
Sherman is not the first public figure to criticize the platform’s algorithm. Since taking over X, Elon Musk has made numerous changes to the For You feed, many of which have sparked controversy.
Accusations include:
- Boosting Musk’s own tweets
- Prioritizing right-leaning political accounts
- Amplifying sensational or polarizing content
- Showing users posts unrelated to their interests
These allegations have fueled ongoing debates about whether X’s algorithm pushes inappropriate or unwanted content onto its users.
A Scandal or Just an Algorithm Gone Awry?
The viral images of Sherman have ignited debate across the political spectrum. Critics argue that a congressman scrolling through softcore content in public—especially on a flight—is inappropriate conduct regardless of how the content appeared. Supporters counter that the platform’s algorithm has become increasingly unpredictable and that anyone could be served similar posts through the For You feed.
Meanwhile, others believe the uproar is more politically motivated than substantive.
Sherman, for his part, insists he did nothing wrong, claiming he was “just scrolling” and became an easy target for political opponents eager to capitalize on a salacious moment.
What Happens Next?
As the story continues circulating, questions remain:
- Will X respond to the algorithm criticism?
- Will Sherman’s comments escalate partisan tensions?
- Will this incident revive conversations about congressional device use and tech literacy?
What’s certain is that a single moment on a flight has turned into a national conversation about algorithms, public conduct, and political weaponization of social media content.
And in the age of viral images, nothing stays private—especially not on X.
