Liberal comedian Rosie O’Donnell issued an apology via social media on Sunday after inaccurately suggesting that the shooter involved in a tragic incident at a Minneapolis Catholic school was a supporter of Trump and had ties to white supremacy.
In a video she posted last Thursday, O’Donnell reacted to the shooting that resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to 18 others, 15 of whom were seriously harmed. She remarked that the violence reminded her of a similar tragedy back in 1999 when she struggled to comprehend shootings at schools.
Referring to the recent shooting, she speculated, “What do you know? It was a white guy, a Republican, a Maga guy.” By Sunday, she acknowledged her error regarding the shooter’s identity in a follow-up video. “I realized a lot of people were upset about the video I made before I took a few days off,” she stated. “You’re right. I didn’t do proper research before making that emotional statement about the shooter.” O’Donnell expressed that she was mistaken, likening her statement’s reasoning to the typical patterns seen with mass shooters. She added, “When you get things wrong, it’s hard to move forward. So, this is my apology, I hope it suffices.”
Her apology drew considerable backlash online. Some users criticized her for not being genuinely remorseful, calling it one of “the most unappreciative apologies ever.” Others suggested that her comments reflect a broader issue, pointing out the necessity for individuals to verify the political narratives they encounter, as misinformation spreads on all sides. One commenter remarked, “While an apology is good, this is a sign of how divided the country remains.” O’Donnell’s responses varied, even asking one critic, “I apologized—what more do you want?”
This incident unfolded just days after the gunman reportedly set a fire during a service at the church, using gunfire to target students and congregants taking cover. FBI director Kash Patel later described the attack as an act of domestic terrorism driven by hateful ideology.
Patel indicated that the shooter’s writings revealed anti-Catholic and anti-religious sentiments and included disturbing messages of anti-Semitism, with phrases criticizing Israel and making Holocaust-related slurs.
