U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert has been making headlines recently — and not for the usual reasons. The far-right congresswoman has made a name for herself over the past few years as an avid supporter of gun rights and QAnon, as well as a staunch opponent of LGBTQ+ rights. Although Boebert has repeatedly utilized “grooming” rhetoric, implying that LGBTQ+ people are inherently predatory toward children, she herself was busted for inappropriate behavior in a family-friendly environment (where children were indeed present!) recently. Read on for everything you need to know about Boebert’s behavior, and the subsequent fallout.
What did Lauren Boebert do?
On September 10, the Colorado representative was in the audience for a performance of the Beetlejuice musical at Denver’s Buell Theatre when she was kicked out for disruptive behavior. The behavior included vaping, singing along, and taking flash photos during the performance, per the Denver Post. Boebert and her date were also caught on video groping each other in the theater, with Boebert appearing to fondle his crotch and her date grabbing her breast.
After several complaints from audience members, Boebert and her date were escorted out of the venue, though they resisted leaving. According to the Denver Post, Boebert said “Do you know who I am?” and “I will be contacting the mayor.”
How did Lauren Boebert respond?
At first, Boebert’s campaign manager, Drew Sexton, denied that she had been vaping during the show. (Clear video evidence would later prove this was false.) In an initial statement to the Post, Sexton wrote, “I can confirm the stunning and salacious rumors: in her personal time, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is indeed a supporter of the performing arts (gasp!) and, to the dismay of a select few, enthusiastically enjoyed a weekend performance of Beetlejuice.”
Boebert changed her tune on September 15, issuing an apology and statement to multiple media outlets including the Colorado Sun. While she didn't admit to any specific behavior, she did pin the blame in part on her recent divorce from her husband of 18 years. “There’s no perfect blueprint for going through a public and difficult divorce, which over the past few months has made for a challenging personal time for me and my entire family,” Boebert wrote. “I’ve tried to handle it with strength and grace as best I can, but I simply fell short of my values on Sunday. That’s unacceptable and I’m sorry.”
Who was Lauren Boebert’s date?
British tabloid The Daily Mail revealed the identity of Boebert’s date as Quinn Gallagher, a registered Democrat who co-owns Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in Aspen. That detail would otherwise be unremarkable if it weren’t for the fact that the bar has hosted drag shows in the past. Boebert has repeatedly railed against drag, especially shows where children are present.
Boebert told TMZ on Monday, however, that she would be parting ways with Gallagher, claiming that she “learned to check party affiliations before you go on a date.” (This perhaps runs counter to The Daily Mail’s report that Boebert and Gallagher had been dating for months, but we digress.)
Boebert additionally claimed that the breakup had “nothing to do with anything that anyone reported.”
“Honestly, he’s a private citizen and we peacefully parted,” she told TMZ. “Great man, great friend and I wish him all the best.”
What has Lauren Boebert’s ex said?
In an open letter posted to his Facebook on Monday, Jayson Boebert joined Lauren in blaming himself and their divorce for her behavior at the play. “Watching the attacks against Lauren, I feel the people should know the truth of our broken marriage and burden she has carried for too long,” Boebert wrote. Without going into detail, the letter appears to allude to apparent infidelity on Jayson’s part which “led to the breakdown of [their] marriage.”
Part of the letter is addressed to Lauren herself, with Jayson writing, “please know that I am dedicated to doing everything in my power to rebuild the trust that has been shattered.” The letter concludes with Jayson asking readers “to show grace and mercy towards Lauren in this troubling season.”
Notably, Jayson Boebert pled guilty to public indecency and lewd exposure charges related to a 2004 incident at a Colorado bowling alley at which Lauren was present. Eyewitnesses told police that Jayson exposed his penis to two young women at the alley; Lauren Boebert has denied that he did, writing in her book that “he didn't do what he was accused of.”
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