Rosie O'Donnell has issued a video apology after she incorrectly claimed that the perpetrator of a school shooting in Minneapolis was a 'Republican, MAGA person'. The comedian and former talk show host made the statement in a now-deleted video posted last Thursday, following the tragic incident at Annunciation Catholic School.
The shooting, which occurred last Wednesday, left two children aged eight and ten dead and 18 others wounded. The gunman, 23-year-old Robin Westman, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police arrived at the scene. Investigators later found that Westman had expressed hatred towards President Donald Trump and had written disparaging messages about various groups, contradicting O'Donnell's initial claims.
In her apology video posted on Sunday, O'Donnell admitted she had not done her 'due diligence' before making the emotional statement. 'I assumed, like most shooters, they followed a standard MO and had standard, you know, feelings of… you know, NRA-loving kind of gun people,' she said. 'Anyway, the truth is I messed up, and when you mess up, you fess up. I'm sorry.'
The apology was met with criticism from some viewers, who described it as 'the most unapologetic apology ever'. O'Donnell responded to one comment by saying, 'I was wrong - and I apologize - what more do [you] want?'
O'Donnell, who moved to Ireland in January with her youngest child in response to Donald Trump's return to the White House, has a long-running feud with the president. She has described living in the US under Trump as emotionally taxing and expressed gratitude for the welcome she has received in Ireland.
