Rosie O’Donnell calls Republican lawmaker Lindsey Graham a ‘closeted idiot’
L – Rosie O’Donnell, R – Lindsey Graham (Getty)
Rosie O’Donnell is under fire after she referred to Republican Senator Lindsey Graham as a “closeted idiot.”
The comedian spoke out after the South Carolina Republican, a frequent pro-Trump mouthpiece, made a string of dismissive comments towards women who have accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault.
In one Twitter thread, Graham urged people to “be highly suspicious of this allegation,” adding: “I will not be a participant in wholesale character assassination that defies credibility.”
He questioned the behaviour of the alleged victims, claiming: “I have a difficult time believing any person would continue to go to – according to the affidavit – 10 parties over a two-year period where women were routinely gang raped and not report it.”
Many accused the lifelong bachelor of victim-blaming, misogyny, and actively dismissing sexual assault in a desperate attempt to score a political victory.
O’Donnell had a more pointed response.
She tweeted at Graham: “f**k u u closeted idiot – this is the patriarchy exposed – this is reality deal with it !!#NoKavanaughConfirmation #NotMyPresident”
The comic added: “Sen. Lindsey Graham – i hope ur not gay – we dont want u – with ur close minded sexist bullshit.”
The comments about Graham led to attacks from far-right outlets including Breitbart News, which slammed O’Donnell for ‘outing’ the politician.
Graham has denied rumours about his sexuality on multiple occasions previously.
Speaking in 2010, Graham joked about having a secret affair with Ricky Martin.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (Drew Angerer/Getty)
He said: “Maybe I’m having a clandestine affair with Ricky Martin. I know it’s really gonna upset a lot of gay men — I’m sure hundreds of ’em are gonna be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge — but I ain’t available. I ain’t gay. Sorry.”
The senator was previously a strong critic of President Donald Trump, but appeared to undergo an overnight damascene conversion in mid-2017 to become one of his most fervent supporters.
His sudden change of heart led to public speculation on whether he was being blackmailed.
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, centre-right, pictured with US President Donald Trump (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty)
Prior to his public change of heart relating to Trump, Graham’s sexuality was publicly targeted by the president’s supporters.
Pro-Trump GOP loyalist Mike Huckabee said in March 2017: “I’m very disappointed in Lindsey. I sometimes wonder what uniform he puts on each morning when goes out to the field to play… and I’m not just talking about the partisan uniform.”
In 2014, a Republican primary challenger backed by the Tea Party movement called Graham “ambiguously gay”.
