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Kiss my dog’s heinie.

That’s the message West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice had for Bette Midler Thursday night after the actress called his residents “poor, illiterate and strung out.”

The 70-year-old Republican took aim at Midler — and other haters — at the end of his televised state of the state address when he held up his English bulldog and flashed its rear to the crowd.

“Babydog tells Bette Midler and all those out there: Kiss her heinie,” Justice said, prompting huge applause and a standing ovation.

“Absolutely too many people doubted us. They never believed in West Virginia … They told every bad joke in the world about us.”

Justice’s bold display was in response to Midler tweeting last month that the entire state of West Virginia was backwards — all because Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) refused to support President Biden’s Build Back Better Act.


  West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice took aim at Bette Midler at the end of his televised state of the state address. Chris Dorst/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice took aim at Bette Midler at the end of his televised state of the state address. Chris Dorst/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP

  Gov. Jim Justice said he delivered the message to Bette Midler on behalf of Babydog. AP Gov. Jim Justice said he delivered the message to Bette Midler on behalf of Babydog. AP

“What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible. He sold us out,” the “Beaches” legend tweeted Dec. 20.

Midler was forced to apologize a day later “to the good people of WVA” after sparking mass outrage.

Before the bizarre dog incident, the governor had spent his hour-long address touting the Mountain State’s accomplishments — boasting it’s been able to avoid much of the bipartisan bickering and “rock-throwing” that occurs in Washington, DC.

“We’re better than that. We’re all better than that,” he said.


  Midler was forced to apologize to the “good people of WVA” after sparking anger for her remarks. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Midler was forced to apologize to the “good people of WVA” after sparking anger for her remarks. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Among those watching the address in person were lawmakers, state supreme court justices and members of the high school girls’ basketball team that Justice coaches.

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