John Legend slams Paul Ryan for Father’s Day tweet, demands end to family separation

Musician John Legend had harsh words for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) in response to the lawmaker’s Father’s Day tweet.

Legend and his wife, model Chrissy Teigen, have been outspoken critics of President Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy to prosecute more migrants crossing the border illegally and separate detained families.

{mosads}“Seriously, f— you,” Legend tweeted. “Reunite the families at the border and we can talk about father’s day.”

Seriously, fuck you. Reunite the families at the border and we can talk about father’s day. https://t.co/bbG0gVqfzq

— John Legend (@johnlegend) June 16, 2018

Legend and Teigen last week donated a total of $288,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union in honor of Trump’s 72nd birthday, as a way to take action on the family separation policy.

“John and I are outraged to see and hear the horror stories of immigrant families seeking asylum and refuge in America being ripped apart due to the inhumane policies of the Trump administration,” Teigen tweeted Thursday. “These actions are cruel, anti-family and go against everything we believe this country should represent.”

Legend’s comment was in response to Ryan’s tweet sharing a video about his life as a father and his three children.

“My life changed the day I became a father,” Ryan tweeted on Saturday. “Liza, Charlie, and Sam are my highest priority. Wishing all of the dads out there a happy early #FathersDay.”

My life changed the day I became a father. Liza, Charlie, and Sam are my highest priority. Wishing all of the dads out there a happy early #FathersDay pic.twitter.com/w3UsSkR4Lf

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) June 16, 2018

Ryan said last week that he opposes migrant children being separated from their parents, and called on Congress to address it through legislation. He pointed to the courts as the reason why families were being separated. 

“This is because of a court ruling,” Ryan said. “We believe it should be addressed in immigration legislation. So what’s happening at the border with the separation of their parents and their children is because of a court ruling, and so that’s why I think legislation is necessary.”

The House plans to vote later this week on two immigration bills.

Democrats and immigration advocates have invoked Father’s Day to call for an end to the Trump policy, using the hastag “FathersDayofAction.”