Lauren Boebert Addresses Controversial Theater Date Incident
By Jason Hall
September 23, 2023
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) claimed she got "a little bit" carried away but denied being drunk during a recent incident in which she and her date were kicked out of a musical at a Denver theater.
Boebert, 36, appeared on Jesse Watters Primetime Friday (September 22) and was asked by Watters if she had "a little too much to drink."
“No, Jesse. Not at all,” Boebert responded. “I was very excited about the actual musical. Huge fan of Beetlejuice. Anyone should go and see the musical if it’s in your area, and please let me know how it ends because I’ve yet to see the end.”
Boebert and her date, later identified as Quinn Gallagher, 46, a Democrat bar owner, were escorted out of a performance of Beetlejuice: The Musical at Buell Theater earlier this month. Video footage showed Boebert vaping and seemingly grabbing Gallagher's groin area as he groped her breast.
“I have apologized to my constituents [and] will continue to do so. All of those in Colorado who may have felt let down, I hear you, and all I could do is promise to do better, and I certainly will,” Boebert said.
The congresswoman also added that she and Gallagher had "peacefully parted ways" and that "all future dates have been canceled with him than everyone else," but said she hoped they "stay friends for a long time," adding that he is a "very nice man."
Boebert and Gallagher 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," according to the Denver Post.
“They told me they would not leave. I told them that they need to leave the theater and if they do not, they will be trespassing,” an usher said. “The patrons said they would not leave. I told them I would (be) going to get Denver Police. They said go get them.”
Surveillance video shared by 9News shows Boebert and Gallagher being escorted away from their seats and out of the building with the congresswoman stopping several times, which included appearing to take a selfie and multiple instances where she seemed to yell at security.
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 after nearly two decades of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences."