FIVE QUIPS IN A CRUZ, GAETZ, PERLMAN DARE
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-texas, has proposed resolving a Twitter feud involving Ron Perlman with a wrestling match between the 70-year-old actor — known for his role as Hellboy, among others — and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-ohio, a former wrestling coach.
1 WHO YOU CALLING UGLY?
Perlman had objected to a tweet by Matt Gaetz, R-fla., in which he criticized a recent vote by U.S. Soccer to repeal a policy that requires players to stand for the national anthem. As part of his response to Gaetz, Perlman posted a photo of Jordan, writing: “You’re lucky for this guy, Matt. If it weren’t for him you’d be the ugliest politician walking.” It was then that Cruz joined the fray.
2 I DARE YA
“Listen Hellboy,” Cruz wrote, referring to a film role played by Perlman, a staunch left-winger, more than a decade ago. “You talk good game when you’ve got Hollywood makeup & stuntmen. But I’ll bet $10k — to the non-political charity of your choice — that you couldn’t last 5 min in the wrestling ring w/ @Jim_jordan w/o getting pinned. You up for it? Or does your publicist say too risky?”
3 OK GUYS, IT’S GETTING TENSE
Perlman responded in kind, referring to the 2016 Republican primary contest in which then-candidate Donald Trump insulted Cruz’s wife and alleged that Cruz’s father was with John F. Kennedy’s assassin shortly before the president was killed. “Wait, is this THEE (sic) Ted Cruz?” Perlman wrote. “Is this the same guy let little Donnie call his wife A dog and his father an assassin and now kisses his ass?”
4 AND KIND OF UGLY
Perlman then suggested he would wrestle Cruz instead and give $50,000 to Black Lives Matter if Cruz accepted. Perlman said the suggestion he wrestle Jordan was “problematic,” an apparent reference to former wrestlers having accused Jordan of turning a blind eye to sexual abuse of wrestlers by a team doctor when he was an assistant coach at Ohio State. Jordan has denied such claims.
5 BUT WAIT, WE WANTED TO SEE THAT TAKEDOWN
In a subsequent tweet, Cruz made no mention of Perlman’s counter-offer. “I get it, you’re rich. But, apparently, soft. You sure seem scared to wrestle Jordan (whom you keep insulting). Can’t take the heat? Need to get a manicure?”