Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has issued an apology after being ejected from a Denver city-owned theater for vaping and causing disruptions during a performance of the hit musical Beetlejuice.
Boebert, who is known for her outspoken conservative views and represents a rural part of Colorado, released an apology statement late Friday via her campaign team.
"The past few days have been difficult and humbling, and I'm truly sorry,” Boebert stated in her public apology. Her disruptive behavior included vaping, singing loudly, and talking during the performance, the Washington Post reports.
Boebert's actions came to light when the city shared an incident report that stated she and an unidentified man had been warned "multiple times" by the theater staff for "vaping, singing, [and] causing a disturbance" before being ultimately escorted out. It was also reported that Boebert was vaping while sat in front of a pregnant woman, who had asked her to stop.
"While none of my actions or words as a private citizen that night were intended to be malicious or meant to cause harm, the reality is they did and I regret that,” Boebert acknowledged on her statement on Friday, as she also admitted to vaping.
Adding a personal note to the unfolding drama, Boebert cited the stress of her public and "difficult" divorce as a factor for her actions. "There's no perfect blueprint for going through a public and difficult divorce,” she expressed, though asserting that it did not excuse her behavior. "I simply fell short of my values on Sunday. That's unacceptable and I'm sorry.”
This unexpected controversy emerges as Boebert is preparing for reelection next year. The congresswoman narrowly defeated Democrat Adam Frisch in the last election by just 546 votes, prompting a recount. The incident and her subsequent apology could have potential ramifications on her political future and offer fodder for her opponents.
Whether this event will have a lasting impact on Boebert's reelection campaign remains to be seen, but the drama certainly sounds more captivating than a Beetlejuice performance.
