Fox News commentator Tomi Lahren is apologizing for getting “too upset” and going full-snowflake after President Donald Trump‘s first State of the Union address, having called Rep. Joe Kennedy a “little limp dick” and making a transphobic “joke” about him and Caitlyn Jenner.
On Instagram, Lahren called Kennedy, who delivered the Democratic rebuttal, a “little limp dick,” tweeted that he’s an “impotent little ginger kid,” and made a transphobic “joke” by comparing his appearance to that of Jenner before she came out as transgender, using her dead name in the insult as well. Kennedy invited a transgender soldier to the State of the Union and spoke out against bullying of transgender children during his rebuttal, as well.
2. Sound On: @TomiLahren says: “Just listen to this nasty little ginger.” –
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) February 1, 2018
What does being a ginger have to do with it? pic.twitter.com/j5ImJ39J6T
3. And last night she calls a Member of Congress “that little limp dick” – Looks like she deleted the story from her Instagram since but luckily Josh saved it. https://t.co/c8kfF2xuBK
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) February 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/jbillinson/status/958861341216968704
Lahren has since apologized for her comments, writing on Twitter Wednesday night that she got “too upset,” on her “personal Instagram,” an attempt to distance her insults from her employer Fox News.
My comments on my personal Instagram about Kennedy’s response were inappropriate and I take full responsibility for that. I got too upset. I sincerely apologize.
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) February 1, 2018
A spokesperson for Fox News directed the Daily Dot’s request for comment toward Lahren’s tweeted apology. Lahren and her talent agency Worldwide Speakers Group did not return the Daily Dot’s requests for comment.
Several of these comments were deleted from her Instagram Story and Twitter account on Wednesday night after she issued an apology, but some were still accessible as of Thursday morning. Many of the posts have been documented by journalist Yashar Ali.
Of the comments that Lahren temporarily kept on her social media accounts, Lahren fixated on Kennedy’s red hair, using the term “ginger” in what appears to be an insult several times, and compared him to Jenner.
2. Sound On: @TomiLahren says: “Just listen to this nasty little ginger.” –
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) February 1, 2018
What does being a ginger have to do with it? pic.twitter.com/j5ImJ39J6T
Lahren also took vitriolic shots on Twitter, where she has nearly a million followers.
“Is it just me or does Joe Kennedy III look a helluva lot like pre-Caitlyn Bruce Jenner?… #SOTUresponse,” read one tweet that Lahren has since deleted.
“In Trump’s America, we say ALL LIVES MATTER you impotent little ginger kid. #SOTUresponse,” a second tweet read before also being deleted.
About 20 minutes before posting her apology Wednesday night, Lahren also posted another comparison of Kennedy and Jenner on Instagram, writing she wasn’t “wrong” about her transphobic comment.
4. @TomiLahren posted this on her Instagram stories about 25 minutes ago and then deleted it. pic.twitter.com/FTjRZ6e6l2
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) February 1, 2018
Her fixation on emasculating Kennedy comes off as almost misogynistic, insinuating that being less than society’s standard of “a man” by being “impotent” or having a small penis, or being a woman like Jenner (or herself) is something of an insult.
Lahren’s insults struck a nerve across social media—particularly her transphobic jab at Jenner.
https://twitter.com/ira/status/958899756486467584
You don’t get to excuse your transphobia with “I got too upset.” https://t.co/KKWX4YvQOE
— Becca Brubaker (@itsmebecca) February 1, 2018
Homophobia can be cured, but unfortunately for Tammy, stupid cannot. https://t.co/vXcQT4hfjK
— Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) February 1, 2018
Conservative critics have also called out Tomi’s seemingly-false brand of “American conservatism” as exhibited by her brazen “little limp dick” insult directed at Kennedy.
She’s not a representative of actual conservatism. She’s a representative of whatever is popular to whomever she’s talking to. https://t.co/UXdiudI0Pc
— Beth Mushin (@beth_mushin) February 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/KassyDillon/status/958865213247426561
.@TomiLahren is an embarrassment to the conservative movement. https://t.co/4YUYBeOo36
— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) February 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/958882314750255105
Spokespeople for Kennedy’s office have yet to respond to requests for comment.
