A viral social media post ignited swift consequences at a South Florida hospital after a labor and delivery nurse publicly made graphic remarks about White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and her pregnancy.
According to Fox News, the nurse, Lexie Lawler, was terminated from her position at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital following the circulation of a TikTok video in which she spoke about Leavitt’s upcoming childbirth in crude and violent terms.
The comments sparked immediate backlash online, with many questioning how a medical professional could make such statements about a patient or any expectant mother.
“As a labor and delivery nurse, it gives me great joy to wish Karoline Leavitt a fourth-degree tear,” Lawler said in the video posted to TikTok.
“I hope you f***ing rip from bow to stern and never s*** normally again, you c***,” she added.
Baptist Health confirmed Thursday that Lawler is no longer employed by the hospital after reviewing the video and its contents.
“The comments made in a social media video by a nurse at one of our facilities do not reflect our values or the standards we expect of healthcare professionals,” Patty Abril, director of media relations and strategic communications at Baptist Health, told Fox News Digital. “Following a prompt review, the individual is no longer employed by our health system.”
Hospital officials emphasized that while employees are entitled to their own views, certain conduct crosses a line — especially in health care.
“While we respect the right to personal opinions, there is no place in healthcare for language or behavior that calls into question a caregiver’s ability to provide compassionate, unbiased care,” Abril added. “We are committed to an environment that promotes trust, professionalism and respect for all.”
The incident unfolded as Leavitt, who serves as the White House press secretary, prepares to welcome her second child.
In December, she announced that she and her husband, Nick, were expecting a baby girl due in May. The couple’s first child, a son named Niko, was born in July 2024.
The video, which circulated widely before being taken down, drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, with critics arguing the remarks were especially disturbing given Lawler’s role caring for women during childbirth.
