Chelsea Handler (Photo courtesy Live Nation)

Chelsea Handler is facing backlash for a controversial tweet hinting that Senator Lindsey Graham is closeted. The tweet was posted on Thursday for National Coming Out Day.

“If you’re wondering why Republicans took a sick day today, it’s probably because it’s #NationalComingOutDay. Looking at you @LindseyGrahamSC,” Handler tweeted.

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

The tweet offended many people who didn’t see the humor in being gay or using National Coming Out Day as part of the joke.

Imagine using THIS day to insult and shame Lindsey Graham for being gay because you think he’s in the closet, instead of encouraging and supporting LGBTQ people who may be struggling today to accept who they are. This joke literally is the antithesis of what today is about. https://t.co/mAj8cm3BIc

— Phillip Henry (@MajorPhilebrity) October 11, 2018

are you there, homophobia? it’s me, chelsea. https://t.co/eGFNShpXEt

— Ira (@ira) October 11, 2018

Isn’t this homophobic? https://t.co/bY2i7NOiO4

— Mickey White (@BiasedGirl) October 12, 2018

To Chelsea Handler, Kathy Griffin and the myriad other comedians still dispensing retrograde ~humor~ with gays as the butt of the joke… pic.twitter.com/3OSfYV5TM4

— Ξvan Ross Katz (@evanrosskatz) October 11, 2018

Hey, this isn’t allyship. It reinforces a negative connotation about homosexuality and links bigotry to being in the closet which is unhelpful. This tweet is trash. And you know it.

— R. Eric Thomas (@oureric) October 11, 2018

Hi everyone! Sometimes twitter jokes work & sometimes they don’t, but maybe let’s all try to a little harder not to make jokes about straight people where them possibly being gay is the punchline! It makes young ppl think gay = bad. xo✌️❤️ pic.twitter.com/KkkTj2pn4Q

— Danny Pellegrino (@DannyPellegrino) October 11, 2018

Handler has not yet commented on the backlash.