ABOVE: Performer Patti LuPone (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
Broadway star Patti Lupone came under fire after she told Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to “come out” on Twitter.
Graham supported Donald Trump after the president made comments telling four congresswomen of color to “go home.” Trump also stood in silence while a crowd of people at his rally chanted “send her back,” referring to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).
LuPone tweeted that Graham is a “disgrace” and should just “come out.”
“Lindsey Graham you are a disgrace,” she wrote. “On a personal note, why don’t you just bite the bullet and come out. You might just come to your senses.”
Lindsey Graham you are a disgrace. On a personal note, why don’t you just bite the bullet and come out. You might just come to your senses.
— Patti LuPone (@PattiLuPone) July 18, 2019
The tweet was considered to be homophobic by some users while others defended the comment.
The double standards at play here. Imagine a conservative tweeting this at Anderson Cooper. It would be national news.
— Dave (@SpannerDave) July 18, 2019
Don’t use us as a weapon, Patti.
— Tryx™️🌪 (@Tryxt3rocks) July 19, 2019
Ya know the twisted comment about his #sexuality is so F’ed up! If a conservative said that to anyone you’d flip! I’m lost in my own country! You’re all crazy! #Independents are the only normal level headed thinkers left! Don’t #Shame anyone into #ComingOut!
— Christie (@ChristieMLeto) July 19, 2019
Wow! Patti LuPone is homophobic! Who knew?
— Kevin (@razorchild63) July 18, 2019
Hilariously, most of the responses come from upset conservatives about how intolerant Patti is being. And y’all need to understand what homophobic means.. she’s not criticizing him b/c he’s gay, she criticizing him b/c he’s secretly gay. There’s a difference. Ask @aaronschock!
— David Bannister Jr. (@dbannisterjr) July 19, 2019
Y’all need to back up off Ms. Patti. This isn’t homophobic. Everyone knows that Lindsey Graham is gay, he even has a code name on Capitol Hill. I have no beef with that. What I do have a problem with, is his bad policies that hurt Americans. DRAG HIM PATTI! DRAG HIM!
— F.E. Feeley Jr (@fefeeleyjr) July 18, 2019
Brava Miss Patti. Drag that queen
— Scott Smith (@SmithSsmith03) July 18, 2019
Comedian Chelsea Handler also accused Graham of being in the closet with a tweet back in October. She was also slammed by people who thought the joke was homophobic.
“If you’re wondering why Republicans took a sick day today, it’s probably because it’s #NationalComingOutDay,” Handler tweeted.“Looking at you @LindseyGrahamSC.”
If you’re wondering why Republicans took a sick day today, it’s probably because it’s #NationalComingOutDay. Looking at you @LindseyGrahamSC
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) October 11, 2018
Graham responded to Handler’s joke by telling TMZ, “Number one, she knows zero about me. To the extent that it matters, I’m not gay.”
