Rosie O’Donnell Finally Apologizes to Melania Trump for Barron Trump Autism Speculation
“I am sorry for the pain I caused – it was not my intent,” actress writes before taking her own Twitter account private
Tim Kenneally | December 1, 2016 @ 5:50 PM
Last Updated: December 1, 2016 @ 5:52 PM
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Rosie O’Donnell has extended a social-media olive branch to First Lady-to-be Melania Trump, apologizing for speculating that Trump’s 10-year-old son is autistic.
O’Donnell apologized to Trump on Thursday via Twitter, the same platform through which she spread the speculation.
“I apologize to @MELANIATRUMP – i was insensitive in my RT – i am sorry for the pain i caused – it was not my intent – i am truly sorry,” O’Donnell wrote, CBS reports. (“The View” alum O’Donnell has since set her Twitter account to private.)
O’Donnell came under heavy fire for retweeting a video suggesting that Barron Trump might have autism.
“Barron Trump Autistic?” O’Donnell wrote in her re-tweet of the video. “If so — what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic.”
Later, O’Donnell defended the speculation, writing that her daughter was recently diagnosed with the condition.
“Here is how it went down,” O’Donnell wrote. “My 3.5 year old daughter Dakota was diagnosed in September with HFA — high functioning autism. I have been immersed in that world/reality since learning — reading — asking questions. It’s all autism — all the time for the newly diagnosed. As we try to grab onto anything to keep us standing, the knowledge we r not alone there r others living this too.”
The video itself sparked the threat of a lawsuit from Melania Trump on Monday. The following day, the man who posted the video to YouTube, James Hunter, pulled the video from YouTube and issued an apology, calling the video “false, defamatory and malicious.”
“In the video, I suggested Barron Trump might suffer from autism. That is in fact 100 percent false,” Hunter said. “It was incredibly irresponsible of me to diagnose Barron Trump using a selection of misleading videos.”
18 People, Places and Things Donald and Melania Trump Have Threatened To Sue (Photos)
This week, Melania Trump threatened to sue an autistic man who speculated that her and Donald Trump's son, Barron, might be autistic, too. It was at least the 18th lawsuit or threat of a lawsuit since Donald Trump's presidential campaign began. Here are the 18 people, places and things Donald Trump and Melania Trump have sued or threatened to sue.
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In a long-winded speech about voter fraud, Trump threatened to sue the U.S. if he did not win the election.
Univision dropped Trump's Miss USA pageant after he said many Mexicans were rapists and criminals. In response, Trump sued, and the network settled for an undisclosed amount.
A British college night club known as Kasbah received a cease-and-desist order and a threat for further legal action after it used Trump's image negatively.
Kasbah Night Club
Melania Trump's lawyers took legal action against the Daily Mail when the publication looked into past suggestions that she was once an escort.
After YouTuber James Hunter posted a now-removed video speculating that Barron Trump might be autistic, Melania Trump threatened a lawsuit. Hunter said he would take down the video.
Tony Schwartz, who authored Trump's "Art of the Deal," described Trump as unfit to be president. So Trump threatened to sue.
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During a campaign speech in February, Trump named the Washington Post among many that would be affected by loosening libel laws.
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Celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian left his job at Donald Trump's D.C. Hotel after Trump's comments against Mexicans. In response, Trump sued, and Zakarian has counter-sued.
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Trump threatened to sue the New York Times after it reported that Trump may have avoided federal income taxes for nearly 20 years. The Times' reply is worth reading.
After Sen. Harry Reid encouraged Americans to be strong despite a "sexual predator" becoming president, Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway released a statement that alluded to Trump's intention to sue the senator for his comments.
Donald Trump has the busiest lawyers, believe me. Sad.
This week, Melania Trump threatened to sue an autistic man who speculated that her and Donald Trump's son, Barron, might be autistic, too. It was at least the 18th lawsuit or threat of a lawsuit since Donald Trump's presidential campaign began. Here are the 18 people, places and things Donald Trump and Melania Trump have sued or threatened to sue.