The impact of a controversial tweet by former comedian Chelsea Handler, which some are calling homophobic, is being felt in Wisconsin. Handler is due to perform in Appleton February 1st and, for the moment at least, the performance is still on. Handler also has ties with a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District.
Handler, the former nightly talk show host for E!’s “Chelsea Lately” and Netflix’s “Chelsea,” is well-known for her liberal political views and rabid hatred of Republicans on numerous social media platforms.
The latest of these antics came on Wednesday night when Handler attacked what many have called Donald Trump’s most open showing of bipartisanship during his presidency. Inviting members of Congress to discuss how to go forward on immigration reform and a compromise regarding hundreds of so-called “Dreamers” under the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Trump let media cameras witness nearly an hour of back and forth negotiations between Republicans and Democrats.
Clearly not pleased with what she saw, Handler went to Twitter and penned (vulgar language warning) the following attack against South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham.
“Holy, f–k f–k. I just [saw] the video of trumps bipartisan ‘meeting’ yesterday,” Handler tweeted. “Hey, @LindseyGrahamSC what kind of d–k sucking video do they have on you for you 2 be acting like this? Wouldn’t coming out be more honorable?”
Handler’s tweets were met with outrage and criticism from conservatives, particularly among Log Cabin Republicans. One of the most outspoken among them was Chris Barron. Barron, who is openly gay, was one of the founding members of the conservative gay rights group “GOProud.”
In his frustration, Barron believes Twitter – which has become somewhat notorious for alleged discrimination against conservatives on its platform – will likely give Handler a pass for her tweet.
Just reported this explicitly anti-gay tweet. Odds on twitter doing something? Less than zero. If a conservative said this they would be suspended immediately. https://t.co/DqBodymPV8
— Chris Barron (@ChrisRBarron) January 11, 2018
Handler is scheduled to perform “A Conversation with Chelsea Handler,” February 1st at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton. Media Trackers reached out to Fox Cities PAC’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Trisha Witt, to see if Handler’s performance was still on in light of the controversy. Witt told us that she was unaware of the tweet or the controversy surrounding it until we informed her of it. She said as a result Handler’s performance is, for the moment, still set for February 1st.
Another area where this could potentially become a factor is in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District. When it comes to celebrity supporters of congressional candidate Randy Bryce and his campaign against House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Janesville), none are more vocal than Handler.
Handler had Bryce on her recently canceled Netflix series “Chelsea” in late 2017 and even held a fundraiser for him at her Bel Air home. Her support of the former ironworker turned political cause célèbre has been a frequent source of ridicule by Republicans thanks to both Bryce’s focus on making his campaign national and Handler’s irrational social media habits.
So far Bryce had said nothing about the Handler controversy and it remains to be seen if anyone in the mainstream Wisconsin media will ask “The Iron Stache” about it.
Meanwhile, Fox News reports that LGBTQ groups have been mostly silent about Handler’s tweet:
LGBTQ groups are oddly silent regarding a tweet sent by former comedian Chelsea Handler on Wednesday that implied Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is a closeted gay man who’s appeasing President Trump instead of coming out of the closet.
GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign, National LGBTQ Task Force and a variety of other gay rights organizations have either ignored or declined to comment on Handler’s tweet when reached by Fox News.
