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Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert was involved in a heated argument with a moderator after an incident in which she was groped at and kicked out of a Denver theatre last September was brought up during the 4th Congressional District of Colorado Republican Primary debate on Friday (May 31).
Reporter Kyle Clark of 9News asked Boebert if she "wanted to talk about the theatre thing," which she claimed was a "very private moment" for the world to see after surveillance footage was released publicly.
“I’m apologizing for you, Kyle Clark getting footage and releasing that — people seeing this in a very private moment,” Boebert said.
Boebert and her date, Quinn Gallagher, were kicked out of the Beetlejuice musical after both were reportedly warned about their behavior by ushers during intermission before security received "another complaint about the patrons being loud and at the time (they) were recording five minute into the second act," the Denver Post reported. Footage of the incident shared by Clark showed Gallagher grabbing the congresswoman's breast, as well as Boebert smoking from a vape, being disruptive during the show and giving employees the middle finger while being escorted out, which she once again denied during the debate.
“I don’t believe there was disrespect. I believe things were taken out of context,” Boebert countered after Clark pressed her on whether she apologized to voters for her actions and disrespecting service workers. “It’s been reported that I flipped someone off and I did not. So I think it’s been mischaracterized.”
Boebert reportedly resisted exiting and asked theater employees, "Do you know who I am," while also saying, "I am on the board" and "I will be contacting the mayor," according to an incident report obtained by the Denver Post. Police arrived at the theater and were present in the lobby until Boebert and Gallagher left the building.
Boebert and Gallagher were seen holding hands as they left the venue, which included Gallagher spinning the congresswoman as they walked through an empty plaza. The incident report didn't identify the two individuals, however, Boebert and her campaign manager, Drew Sexton, both confirmed her dismissal.
“I can confirm the stunning and salacious rumors: in her personal time, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is indeed a supporter of the performing arts (gasp!) and, to the dismay of a select few, enthusiastically enjoyed a weekend performance of Beetlejuice” Sexton said in a statement to the Denver Post.
Sexton did confirm that Boebert used her phone to take a picture of the show despite cellphone usage being prohibited during performances. Boebert, a mother of four and grandmother to one, filed for divorce from her husband, Jayson, in May 2023 after nearly two decades of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences."