Rosie O'Donnell apologises to Wynonna Judd over Trump-supporter claim
Rosie O'Donnell has publicly apologised to Wynonna Judd for saying the country singer was a supporter of US President Donald Trump.
The apology was posted on Instagram on Oct. 7, according to Instagram. It followed remarks O'Donnell made in August on The Tangle podcast, where she described Judd as a Trump supporter, according to Billboard.
In her post, O'Donnell said she was wrong to make that assumption because Judd had performed at Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club and residence in Florida. A performance at a venue is not the same as an endorsement, and O'Donnell said she now understood that. She said she had already apologised to Judd privately before posting the message in public.
O'Donnell also said Judd had told her she had sung for seven presidents from both of America's main parties. That history, O'Donnell suggested, should have made her pause before linking one booking to one politician. She took responsibility for getting it wrong.
Judd, for her part, said the claim caught her off guard. She told People that O'Donnell's comments about her politics were "100%" an assumption. She said the two had never spoken about politics, and that she identifies as an independent, meaning she does not align herself with either the Democrats or the Republicans.
Judd said she was "in shock" when she heard what had been said, according to People. The reaction was surprise rather than fury. Judd said she was "not angry" with O'Donnell about the episode.
A representative for Judd then filled in the booking history. The representative said Judd did not perform for Trump and that Trump was not in attendance at the event O'Donnell had referred to. Judd has performed for seven presidents from both parties, beginning with Jimmy Carter, and that list does not include Trump.
The two women are longtime friends, according to The Independent. That friendship appears to have steadied the fallout.
For fans, this means the record is now clear on both sides. Judd has stated her position. O'Donnell has withdrawn her claim. And both have said they have spoken directly.
