Arts & Entertainment
Rosie O’Donnell faces backlash for offering to pay GOP senators
conservatives believe the comedian’s tweet is illegal

(Screenshot via YouTube)
Rosie O’Donnell is facing backlash from conservatives for offering $2 million to GOP senators if they voted no on the reformed tax bill.
O’Donnell made the offer on Tuesday on Twitter to Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) ahead of the tax bill vote. Both Collins and Flake voted yes for the bill, which passed on Wednesday morning.
“so how about this i promise to give 2 million dollars to senator susan collins and 2 million to senator jeff flake. if they vote NO NO I WILL NOT KILL AMERICANS FOR THE SUOER RICHDM me susan DM me jeff no shit 2 million cash each,” O’Donnell tweeted.
so how about this
i promise to give
2 million dollars to senator susan collins
and 2 million to senator jeff flakeif they vote NO
NO I WILL NOT KILL AMERICANS
FOR THE SUOER RICHDM me susan
DM me jeffno shit
2 million
cash
each— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
O’Donnell also addressed Collins directly posting a photo of Collins’ family.
“do u think your family is proud of u @sennatorcollins woman – mother – grandmother – sister – daughter u have betrayed us all,” O’Donnell tweeted.
susan – 2 million dollars cash
call if u want to negotiatedo u think your family is proud of u @sennatorcollins
woman – mother – grandmother – sister – daughter
u have betrayed us alldear god
ask for forgiveness
redeem ur soul tomorrow #NOTSEXIST pic.twitter.com/wa0QcMXNk2— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
In another tweeted O’Donnell posts, “i will HAPPILY pay any GOP senator 2 million dollars to vote NO they have been paid obviously.”
i will HAPPILY pay any GOP senator 2 million dollars
to vote NOthey have been paid
obviously— ROSIE (@Rosie) December 20, 2017
The Hill notes that under 18 U.S. Code § 201 it is illegal “to offer money to public officials with the intent to influence official acts, like voting on a bill” but whether her tweets were meant to be serious is unclear. However, O’Donnell did retweet comments from people who did not take her tweets seriously.
The dear @Rosie makes a joke about bribing the @GOP to make a point, and the Alt-reich goes bat shit crazy.
It’s like they don’t have humor in Russia.
— Pesach ‘Pace’ Lattin ⏺ (@pacelattin) December 20, 2017
After Rosie O’Donnell’s public attempt to bribe Susan Collins or Jeff Flake with 2 million each, she should probably expect calls from other politicians telling her the proper and usual way to offer bribes quietly and secretly.
— @PaulMicRogers (@PaulMicRogers) December 20, 2017
Other people wanted O’Donnell to face legal action.
Rosie O’Donnell tried to bribe Susan Collins and Jeff Flake with 2 million dollars each to vote “NO” on the Tax Bill.
Lock Her Up! pic.twitter.com/y3bkdkCbnj
— Based Monitored??? (@BasedMonitored) December 20, 2017
Conservative websites The Daily Wire and The Federalist believe that O’Donnell’s tweets do, in fact, break the law.
The New York Daily News reports that FBI officials “neither confirm nor deny investigations” into the matter.
Catfish Comedy will host “2026 Queer Kickoff Show” on Thursday, Feb. 5 at A League of Her Own (2319 18th Street, N.W.). This show features D.C.’s funniest LGBTQ and femme comedians. The lineup features performers who regularly take the stage at top clubs like DC Improv and Comedy Loft, with comics who tour nationally.
Tickets are $17.85 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
Arts & Entertainment
Catherine O’Hara, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ star and celebrated queer ally, dies at 71
Actress remembered for memorable comedic roles in ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Home Alone’
Catherine O’Hara, the varied comedic actor known for memorable roles in “Beetlejuice,” “Schitt’s Creek,” and “Home Alone,” has died at 71 on Friday, according to multiple reports. No further details about her death were revealed.
O’Hara’s death comes as a shock to Hollywood, as the Emmy award-winning actor has been recently active, with roles in both “The Studio” and “The Last of Us.” For her work in those two shows, she received Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series and outstanding guest actress in a drama series.
In 2020, O’Hara won the Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy series award for her work in the celebrated sixth and final season of “Schitt’s Creek.” She was also known as a queer ally and icon for her theatrical and often campy performances over multiple decades. In “Schitt’s Creek,” she played Moira Rose, the wig-loving mother of David Rose (played by series creator Dan Levy). David is pansexual, but the characters around him simply accept him for who he is; the show was embraced by the LGBTQ community with how naturally David’s sexuality was written and portrayed. That show ran from 2015 to 2020 and helped bring O’Hara and her co-stars into a new phase of their careers.
In a 2019 interview with the Gay Times, O’Hara explained why the show got LGBTQ representation right: “Daniel has created a world that he wants to live in, that I want to live in. It’s ridiculous that we live in a world where we don’t know how to respect each other and let each other be. It’s crazy. Other shows should follow suit and present the world and present humans as the best that we can be. It doesn’t mean you can’t laugh, that you can’t be funny in light ways and dark ways. It’s all still possible when you respect and love each other.”
Additional credits include “SCTV Network” (for which O’Hara won a writing Emmy), “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Six Feet Under,” “Best in Show,” “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” and “Dick Tracy.” O’Hara also lent her voice to “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Chicken Little,” “Monster House,” and “Elemental.” O’Hara was expected to return for Season 2 of “The Studio,” which started filming earlier this month.
Friday, January 30
Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).
Spark Social will host “RuPaul’s Drag Race S18 Watch Party” at 8 p.m. This event will be hosted by local drag queens TrevHER and Grey, who will provide hilarious commentary and make live predictions on who’s staying and who’s going home. Stick around after the show for a live drag performance. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Saturday, January 31
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Sunday, February 1
Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.
Monday, February 2
“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam (adamheller@thedccenter.org).
Tuesday, February 3
Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more information, email [email protected].
Wednesday, February 4
Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.
Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older LGBTQ+ women can meet and socialize with one another. There will be discussion, activities, and a chance for guests to share what they want future events to include. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
Thursday, February 5
The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5:00 pm if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245.
Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.
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