Holly Robinson Peete slams right-wing pundit Ann Coulter for harassing Tim Walz’s son, who has special needs

Ann Coulter’s decision to mock Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s son backfired on the Republican pundit.

Celebrities, a former White House occupant and lots of others criticized Coulter for mocking Gus Waltz’s emotional response to the news of his father’s death throughout the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

Gus Walz, who has nonverbal learning disorder in addition to anxiety and ADHD, stood and applauded Tim Walz as the previous school teacher accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination on Aug. 21 in Chicago.

At one point, Gus shouted, “I love you, Daddy,” and “That’s my daddy,” pointing to Gov. Walz, who was giving a speech on the DNC stage. The 17-year-old highschool senior burst into tears with pride for his father.

Ann Coulter shared a link to an article on X about Gus Walz’s touching viral moment, with the caption, “I’m talking about weirdness…” The right-wing agitator’s comments have sparked a web firestorm.

People took issue with the 62-year-old conservative who cyberbullied a teen with special needs. Coulter eventually deleted the tweet, however the backlash has since spread across the web.

For example, Holly Robinson Peete criticized Ann Coulter on social media. The former daytime panelist on “The Talk” took to X to precise her frustration with Republicans’ attacks on Gus Walz.

“As a mother of a neuroatypical autistic adult son who was ridiculed and bullied by KIDS at school… I want you to tell me this to my face, you are an ill-mannered POS. I don’t blame you for not being able to recognize an authentic moment of true, unconditional love,” Robinson Peete told Ann Coulter.

The “21 Jump Street” actress also spoke out about conservative political activist Dinesh D’Souza after convicted criminal joked that Gus Walz has “mental problems” on X. Holly Robinson Peete returns to the platform so as to add“Mocking people with special needs is the lowest form of human expression. We, as families of autistic people, know that.”

Holly Robinson married American football quarterback Rodney Peete in 1995. The couple has 4 children, including twins, a daughter, Ryan Elizabeth Peete, and a son, Rodney Peete Jr., born in October 1997. Rodney Jr. was diagnosed with autism on the age of three.

Gus Walz was born in October 2006. His family learned of his diagnosis of nonverbal learning disorder when he reached his teens. Teens with NVLD are characterised by having average or above-average IQs and difficulty understanding nonverbal information, reminiscent of body language and facial expressions.

NVLD and autism are neurodevelopmental disorders. People on the autism spectrum may additionally have problems with social skills and nonverbal communication, but NVLD and ASD are classified as different conditions.

Tim Walz and his wife Gwen Walz spoke with People that their son has NVLD, anxiety disorder and ADHD. They told the outlet, “It took some time, but it immediately became clear to us that Gus’s condition was not a failure — it was his secret power.”

In addition to Holly Robinson Pete, the Walzes have received support against online agitators like Coulter and D’Souza from one other influential Democrat. Former first lady Michelle Obama defended Gus Walz and issued a not-so-veiled attack on his detractors.

“I was moved to see Gus Walz’s joy when his dad (Tim Walz) took the stage last night. I’m grateful you showed us all what real love looks like, Gus. Let’s be a nation that embraces that kind of warmth and sensitivity, rather than mocking or ridiculing it. We could all use Gus’s example in our own lives,” Michelle Obama wrote on Twitter on August 22.

Gus Walz and Coulter became a trending topic on social media after Coulter’s offensive tweet. Outsiders and celebrities had quite a bit to say concerning the way Gus was treated for showing affection to his father.

“It was over for Ann once Gus’s new black cousins ​​came into the chat! Just bend the knee, Ann!” one Instagram user wrote in response to Holly Robinson Peete condemning Coulter. Someone else commented, “Gus is our nephew now. We’re leaving at dawn.”

Another supporter of Pete chimed in, “Okaaaaaay! Holly woke up and chose VIOLENCE today! What time are we going to her house?” Another Instagram account praised Gus Walz while suggesting his father’s political party was irrelevant, writing, “Madness. I thought this was such a beautiful moment. Regardless of politics.”

On August 6, Vice President Kamala Harris announced Governor Walz as her running mate within the 2024 presidential campaign. The Democratic Harris-Walz team is running against the Republican team of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance within the November 5 general election.