Dr Harleen Grewal is facing a lot of heat after a video of her making a controversial joke at a political gala went viral. The dentist from Santa Clarita was speaking at a SCV GOP Liberty Gala when she made several comments that many have found unprofessional. She joked about patients reacting to her office decor, saying some would “jump off and take off as if Trump was coming in the room.” She also made a comment about rising dental costs, asking, “How’s Bidenomics working for you?”
The part that drew the most backlash was when she described using a “secret hat” while treating patients. According to Dr Grewal, she wears a ‘make your smile great again’ hat and, when patients show anxiety, she reduces their laughing gas and encourages them by saying, “You got this. It’s not as bad as you think it is.” Critics say this raises ethical concerns, especially if patients aren’t consenting to changes in sedation.
In response to the backlash, Dr Grewal has defended herself, saying her remarks were part of a stand-up comedy-style routine. She questioned why her humor was being singled out, saying, “Jimmy Kimmel can have a joke, but I can’t?” She also insisted that she follows the highest standards of care, stating, “I took an oath to be a good dentist and a good provider, which I am.”
The viral video has caused a storm online. Skyline Smiles, Dr Grewal’s practice, has been flooded with one-star reviews, mostly citing the controversial remarks. The Yelp page even had to be frozen due to the sheer volume of negative comments. Some people have also mistakenly targeted an unrelated Skyline Smiles clinic in Chicago. That office, run by Dr Deepak Neduvelil, has been in a legal battle with Dr Grewal over the name for years and expressed frustration at being confused with her practice.
The situation has sparked debates about professionalism, ethics, and free speech in healthcare. While Dr Grewal frames her joke as harmless humor, many feel it crossed the line, especially when it involves patient safety and comfort.
