Entertainment

Rosie O'Donnell responds to backlash on Barron Trump comments

By Andrea Park

November 28, 2016 / 2:20 PM EST / CBS News

Rosie O’Donnell has responded to the backlash after she suggested that Barron Trump may be autistic.

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The TV personality wrote a post on her website and said that she was curious about the president-elect’s son because her own 3-year-old daughter, Dakota, is autistic.

“Barron Trump Autistic?” she tweeted last week. “If so — what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic.”

The tweet prompted responses from people who called her out for speculating about a 10-year-old child.

One Twitter user responded, “autistic or not, the kid is not deserving of any of the bulls*** that’s being said about him. America has become a fiasco.”

Others said it was irresponsible for O’Donnell to stoke a rumor.

@ParanormalNJ @jenheger @chrismacheras @Rosie It's shameful to spread rumors about ten year old children.
— Just Some Goat (@Lookinabout) November 22, 2016

@chrismacheras @Rosie @YouTube This video does nothing but name and shame, which is bullying. 2016 year of the hypocrite
— Mad Dog McYup (@GreatHanes) November 28, 2016

@Rosie @YouTube I am an autism parent and I am offended that you are trying to start rumors about Barron trump!
— Grace Puccinelli (@GracePuccinelli) November 22, 2016

@chrismacheras @Rosie @YouTube Not your job to discuss or provide attention to. #appalled #remove
— moegrange (@maureengmclean) November 28, 2016

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She claimed on her website that her comment has nothing to do with her animosity toward Donald Trump: “i feel trump is a clear and present danger,” she wrote. “but this autism subject – had nothing to do with donald.”