Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) and actor Ron Perlman became embroiled in a Twitter feud on Sunday after Perlman criticized Gaetz for condemning the U.S. Soccer board of directors’ decision to allow their players to kneel during the national anthem.

The repeal follows weeks of protests against racial inequality and police brutality. The policy was put in place years ago, when U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe joined NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others in taking a knee during the anthem to protest police violence and systemic racism.

“I’d rather the US not have a soccer team than have a soccer team that won’t stand for the National Anthem. You shouldn’t get to play under our flag as our national team if you won’t stand when it is raised,” Gaetz tweeted.

Perlman replied that the U.S. Soccer team did not care about Gaetz’s opinion.

“The US Soccer team called and you guessed it… said they couldn’t give any less of a f— about what you two dipshits think,” Perlman wrote.

Gaetz then continued to add fuel to the fire, criticizing Perlman for playing Clay, a white supremacist, in the FX series Sons of Anarchy.

“This racial justice warrior had no problem in Hollywood portraying the White Supremacist leader of a motorcycle gang. #SOA,” Gaetz tweeted.

“Yessir, so true!” Perlman answered. “So rewarding playing assholes on tv. Tell me sir, how is it actually being one?”

With a small smiley face, Gaetz replied that “the fact that Hollywood thinks I’m an asshole is a badge of honor.” He then went on to say that his message was threatening Perlman’s “wokeness.”

 

“Speaking of Woke Matty, do you think it’s just Hollywood that thinks you’re an asshole?” Perlman fired back in two tweets. “Read the comments, I’ll wait… And while we’re at it f—boi, what is this shit about playing your crowd with dog whistles like ‘Hollywood,’ making them think culture is the thing that’s keeping them down? When it’s really you and your greed.”

“I can see I was way off w the ‘triggered’ analysis…” Gaetz replied in a pair of tweets Sunday. “Dude I represent a district of 700k that elected me w about two-thirds of the vote the last 3x I’ve been on a ballot. Blue check marks don’t scare me anymore than your fictional white supremacy motorcycle gang. Leave the tough guy comments for those of us who face the voters.”

Perlman then accused Gaetz’s district of being gerrymandered and of him relying on his family’s wealth.

“Ya know what, you’re right. A guy who wins a totally gerrymandered district with daddy’s money deserves our deepest admiration. You’re right..I only PLAY scumbags and grifters. You’re the real deal!” Perlman wrote.

Gaetz then argued that his district is “literally impossible to gerrymander.”

“Gerrymandered district? The western and northern borders of my district are Alabama. The southern boundary is the Gulf of Mexico. It’s literally impossible to gerrymander. Try again,” Gaetz replied.

Read more about:

Get the free uPolitics mobile app for the latest political news and videos

iPhone Android