Osceola GOP event with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene will not be cancelled: ‘Fake news’ is ‘blowing everything out of proportion’

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – An Osceola County Republican Party event on Jan. 6 with special guest U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., is planned to go on despite media reports that Westgate Vacation Villas Resort cancelled the event.

NBC reported the event was cancelled “after it learned the event was intended to commemorate the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.”

Mark Cross, chair of the Osceola County Republican Party, said the “fake news” is “blowing everything out of proportion.”

“We, in no way whatsoever, were going to celebrate January 6 as a positive, because it’s not. It was negative for everybody concerned,” Cross said.

The event called “Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene Book Signing Event” was scheduled on Jan. 6 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Cross, who organized and paid for the event, told Florida’s Voice he found out about the venue cancelling the event from the media and third parties and had not heard from the venue as of Friday morning.

Cross said if the venue plans to cancel their event, the event will still go on at a different location.

A screenshot of a text message advertisement, which was shared on social media, said “Occasion:** 3rd Anniversary of Jan 6.”

Cross said the date of the event is a coincidence and the text message was sent out by a third party.

Westgate Vacation Villas Resort’s general manager confirmed to Florida’s Voice the event “is not occurring at the resort.”

Florida’s Voice asked the manager why the venue was not contacted about the cancellation, however, the manager said the marketing department would reach out to Florida’s Voice for comment.

Westgate Resorts gave a statement to NBC News that said “Westgate was not made aware of the purpose of this event when we were approached to host a book signing.”

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, shared the news of the cancellation online.

“Event got canceled at Westgate — you’re welcome America,” she wrote.

Cross said a private briefing was planned as part of the event with Greene to discuss Jan. 6.

“Super VIPs will be invited to a special private briefing on J6 and DC in a closed-door session,” the event website said.

Cross told Florida’s Voice the theme was “honoring Republican women,” which is also outlined on the ticket website.

According to the website, the event is called “Meet Cong. Marjorie Taylor Greene in Kissimmee Honoring Republicans.”

“This is a fantastic opportunity to get your hands on a signed copy of her book and have the opportunity to meet with the Congresswoman herself,” the event description said.

Florida’s Voice reached out to the marketing team at Westgate Vacation Villas Resort along with Founder, CEO, and President David Siegel for comment and will update this story if a response is received.