Whoopi Goldberg Needs to Explain Lindsey Graham Gay Joke
Back in June 2020 the meme #LadyLindsey began to trend on social media, according to the Washington Post. It refers to South Carolina GOP senator Lindsey Graham. "Every sex worker I know has been hired by this man," gay adult performer Sean Harding tweeted at the time without mentioning by name. "Replies to his tweet showed that many people understood he was talking about Graham, and several people said they allegedly knew sex workers who were hired by Graham," the Washington Post wrote in a subsequent report. "Other people claimed that Graham would insist on being called 'Lady G,' a play on his initials."
On the September 22 episode of "The View," co-host Whoopi Goldberg found herself in hot water after she referenced Graham as gay. The senator has found himself in the news lately after suggesting that there be a national law dealing with abortion. This came after he had said abortion rights should be left to the states.
He has a similar stand on same sex marriage, saying that it should be left to the states and hasn't suggested there be a federal law to guarantee same sex marriage or ban it.
On the show, the panel was speaking with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about Graham's conservative views when Goldberg seemed to make a joke about Graham's sexuality before the show went to a commercial break.
"Senator Graham said maybe about a month ago, in early August, that he believes, when it comes to marriage, when it comes to abortion, it's for the states to decide, so, Senator Graham, what changed?" Jean-Pierre asked, to which Goldberg responded: "Well, maybe he's getting married? Do it quick, because I know people are fooling around with our marriage rights, wherever you stand."
After the break, Goldberg explained. "I need to make clear that I was doing what I do as a comic. Sometimes I make jokes, and it was a joke, nothing more than that. I just got a whole conversation about people misunderstanding the joke. I mean, okay. I should probably never do this show again, if this is what it's coming to. It was a joke, guys."
Entertainment Weekly writes that though "Goldberg did not specify whom she had a 'whole conversation' with about the joke's impact, a source close to the situation tells EW that the follow-up statement was a clarification she wanted to make on her own. EW has reached out to Graham's office for comment."
On Twitter, many wondered why she bothered to apologize.
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