Rosie O’Donnell Apologizes for Misidentifying Minneapolis Church Shooter

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Comedian Rosie O'Donnell issued a public apology on Sunday after misidentifying the shooter involved in a deadly incident at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. The attack, which occurred during a mass on August 27, left two children dead and 18 others injured.

O’Donnell initially posted a video on social media claiming the shooter was a MAGA supporter and a member of the Republican Party. She linked the violence to a broader narrative of right-wing extremism, saying, “What do you know? It was a white guy, Republican, MAGA person, what do you know?”

Upon realizing her error, the 63-year-old comedian posted a follow-up video, stating, “I did not do my due diligence before I made that emotional statement, and I said things about the shooter that were incorrect.” O’Donnell admitted that she had made assumptions based on patterns in other cases and described her comments as a mistake.

O’Donnell faced backlash online for her initial claims, with some critics calling her apology insincere. One social media user labeled it “the most unapologetic apology ever,” while others called for better fact-checking before making public statements.

According to investigators, the shooter was identified as Robin Westman, a transgender individual. Writings found at the scene indicated a history of anti-religious and antisemitic sentiments, with mentions of targeting political figures such as Donald Trump. FBI Director Kash Patel labeled the act “barbaric” and described it as an instance of domestic terrorism motivated by hate.

The incident has reignited discussions about gun violence and political rhetoric in the United States, with calls for more extensive fact-checking in media portrayals of mass shootings.