The Columbus Dispatch

Baio bashes ‘Happy Days’ cast over reunion

- Hannah Yasharoff

“Happy Days” alum Scott Baio didn’t mince words about his former costars reuniting to raise funds for Wisconsin Democrats less than two weeks before the 2020 election.

“I’m not on board, obviously, because I don’t believe in socialism and Marxism,” Baio, 60, said Wednesday morning on “Fox Business.”

Cast members Henry Winkler (“Fonzie”), Ron Howard (“Richie Cunningham”), Don Most (“Ralph Malph”), Anson Williams (“Potsie Weber”), Marion Ross (“Marion Cunningham”) and writer Lowell Ganz plan to reunite virtually Sunday to answer fan questions and share behind-the-scenes stories from the cast and crew. Viewer entry costs at least a dollar, with proceeds going to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Baio said who spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention in support of President Donald Trump, said he supports the president because he believes in “all things America.”

“Here’s what I don’t get: To take a show like ‘Happy Days,’ that represente­d traditiona­l American values, good morals, a slice of Americana, and to use that show and those ideals to promote two people in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris that condone, encourage and foment rioting and looting is a little bizarre to me,” Baio said, mispronoun­cing the Democratic vice presidenti­al candidate’s first name.

While Biden has supported protesters’ right to demonstrat­e since protests began in May, he has condemned any resulting violence on a consistent basis.

The first statement the Democratic presidenti­al nominee publicly made regarding the matter was on May 29, when he told CNN that people “have a right to be, in fact, angry and frustrated. And more violence, hurting more people, isn’t going to answer the question.”

Baio went on to criticize “Full House” alumnus John Stamos, who volunteere­d to play Chachi after Baiowas left off the announced cast list.

“It’s good to know that Stamos is part of the Hollywood elite Marxist crowd,” he said, adding “I think Stamos always wanted to be Chachi instead of playing second fiddle to a 3-year-old.”

He also weighed in on fellow conservati­ve actress Kirstie Alley facing backlash for sharing her political views, saying he can “completely empathize with what Kirstie is going through.” He added: “I have been whacked pillar to post for years by people who are supposed to be all-inclusive and understand­ing and loving. They’re fascists and you’re not allowed to think outside of what they think and I find it disgusting.”

On Saturday, Alley tweeted: “I’m voting for @realdonald­trump because he’s NOT a politician. I voted for him 4 years ago for this reason and shall vote for him again for this reason. He gets things done quickly and he will turn the economy around quickly. There you have it folks there you have it”

Most recently, Baio has made headlines after his former “Charles in Charge” co-star Nicole Eggert alleged he sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined in 2018 to file charges against Baio, citing the expired statute of limitation­s, after Eggert went public with her accusation­s that February.

Contributi­ng: Ella Lee, USA TODAY and Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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