A Fox News host has earned the ire of conservatives and pastors after making a vulgar attack against a conservative who expressed her views against gay men using surrogacy to make motherless children. The controversy started when Fox News host Guy Benson, who is gay, announced that he and his husband had welcomed their second child into the world through surrogacy. “We are blessed and overjoyed to welcome Madison Halsey into the world and into our family. Our hearts are filled to the brim. A baby girl. We are just so thankful,” wrote Benson on social media with a picture of the newborn.

The post, however, did not receive praise from conservative Megan Basham, author of Shepherds for Sale and media personality at The Daily Wire. While referring to Benson as “an incisive pundit,” she criticized his decision and those like him to create “motherless children.” “I pray Benson and those like him on the Right would consider what they are telling the world about how unnecessary they believe mothers (or if we’re talking about two women, fathers) are to the needs of children,” she wrote. “Because that is what they’re declaring when they create these children through the surrogacy process. That mothers and fathers serve no specific purpose.”

Fox News host Lisa Kennedy Montgomery, usually referred to as just “Kennedy” took umbrage at Basham’s remarks, reposting them and writing, “Bless your heart, Megan. While you’re at it, go replace the batteries in your vibrator.” Kennedy has been described as a close friend of Benson’s and officiated his wedding. She serves on panels as a Libertarian voice, often siding with conservatives yet breaking with them on social issues like gay marriage and surrogacy. Conservatives have been more vocal on their opposition to surrogacy, even amongst heterosexual couples, framing it as commodifying parenthood.

Conservatives were quick to defend Basham, who has faced a cancer battle for several years. “When people have no intelligent rebuttal, they turn to low-browed gutter language,” wrote evangelist Justin Peters. “What a weird weird response to your very correct observation,” wrote Allie Beth Stuckey to Basham. Christian commentator Nick Freitas went after Kennedy, comparing her to Chelsea Handler. “Oh look…a totally edgy Vibrator joke…yeah here’s the thing Kennedy, the role of unfunny female comic has already been filled by Chelsea Handler…and quite frankly almost ever other liberal female comic, if you’re going to insult someone to show everyone how cool you are at least make it clever,” he wrote. “Not to mention Megan is spot on and gay couples paying women to have their babies is weird. depriving a child of a mother because your sexual preference prevents creating children with your partner is abnormal and damaging to the kid.”

Basham responded to Kennedy online as well, noting her respect for Kennedy’s work and calling her “hilarious” but reaffirming her position. “But, yes, I believe that children need what both a mother and a father offer. Sometimes tragedies make it impossible to fulfill those needs, and we make the best accommodation we can in tragic cases. But it does not mean we make the tragic exceptions the rule,” she stated. “I believe that the most fundamental thing that conservatives must conserve is the natural family and that a child has a right to a mother and father. If that earns me the ire of Fox News, then so be it. This is where I stand, and I can do no other.”