
Image source: YouTube screenshot
During his recent welcome speech for the 2023 National Book Awards ceremony, actor LeVar Burton suggested to the crowd that he'd get physically violent with members of conservative group Moms for Liberty.
"Before we get going, are there any Moms for Liberty in the house?" Burton asked, according to video from Wednesday's broadcast. "Moms for Liberty? No? Good! Then hands will not need to be thrown tonight."
A number of folks in the audience — presumably consisting of individuals who wouldn't tolerate a smidgen of violence against women — hooted, hollered, and clapped following Burton's rather misogynistic declaration:
2023 National Book Awards Ceremony - featuring LeVar Burton welcome and special guest Oprah Winfreyyoutu.be
Guess it's all good as long as the correct women get beaten up, eh, LeVar?
The Huffington Post detailed Burton's "outspoken ... disgust" for Moms for Liberty, and the left-wing outlet called the group "extremist" and said Moms for Liberty "has described itself as defending 'parental rights' in government while also seeking to have books removed from libraries. During last week’s U.S. elections, Moms for Liberty set out to take over various school boards but ultimately wasn’t successful."
HuffPost also called attention to an Esquire interview in which Burton indicated he was “thrilled” that “hardly any candidates backed by Moms for Liberty won their races.”
“These are people who would rather children not know the truth,” Burton told Esquire, according to the Post. “Those kids will never know what they’re missing, but it’s our job to stand up for them, to be their voices and their advocates. That’s what being an elder in this society means to me.”
Moms for Liberty hopped on social media and gave Burton a piece of their collective mind over his remarks:
"American moms weep as a childhood favorite, Reading Rainbow, calls for physical attacks against us because we are protecting the innocence of our children," the group wrote on X. "@levarburton, why have you sunk so low? Threatening physical violence against women?"
While a few individuals loved Burton's suggestion that he'd fistfight Moms for Liberty, quite a number of others didn't take too kindly to it:
Burton as of Friday afternoon made no clarifying statement on his X page regarding his Moms for Liberty remarks. Fox News said Burton hasn't yet responded to its request for comment.
The National Book Foundation, which presents the National Book Awards, on Friday did not immediately respond to Blaze Media's request for comment regarding Burton's Moms for Liberty remarks.
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