Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has apologized after she was kicked out of a performance of Beetlejuice in Colorado on Sunday, saying she “simply fell short of my values.”
Boebert was removed from the theater at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts for vaping and causing a disturbance. The congresswoman’s office initially denied that she was vaping. But surveillance video obtained by the Denver television station 9News shows the congresswoman vaping during the performance.
“The past few days have been difficult and humbling, and I’m truly sorry for the unwanted attention my Sunday evening in Denver has brought to the community,” Boebert said in a statement.
“Whether it was the excitement of seeing a much-anticipated production or the natural anxiety of being in a new environment, I genuinely did not recall vaping that evening when I discussed the night’s events with my campaign team while confirming my enthusiasm for the musical,” she added. “Regardless of my belief, it’s clear now that was not accurate; it was not my or my campaign’s intention to mislead, but we do understand the nature of how this looks. We know we will have to work to earn your trust back and it may not happen overnight, but we will do it.”
New video released on Friday night appears to show Boebert and her date groping each other in the theater during the performance. This she blamed on her divorce.
“There’s no perfect blueprint for going through a public and difficult divorce, which over the past few months has made for a challenging personal time for me and my entire family,” she said. “I’ve tried to handle it with strength and grace as best I can, but I simply fell short of my values on Sunday. That’s unacceptable and I’m sorry.”
Boebert filed for divorced from her husband, Jayson, in May after nearly 20 years of marriage.
