Ron Perlman has challenged Texas Republican senator Ted Cruz to a charity wrestling match after the pair became engaged in a heated argument on Twitter.
The Hollywood actor made the offer during an exchange with Republican Florida congressman Matt Gaetz. The pair had been debating about US Soccer’s decision to repeal a rule requiring its players to stand for the national anthem, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
Gaetz attacked Perlman by calling him a “racial justice warrior who had no problem in Hollywood portraying the White Supremacist leader of a motorcycle gang,” referring to the actor’s starring role in Sons of Anarchy.
Perlman shot back: “I only PLAY scumbags and grifters. You’re the real deal!”
Told by Gaetz to “leave the tough guy comments for those of us who face the voters”, Perlman tweeted a picture of Ohio congressman Jim Jordan and said: “You’re lucky for this guy Matt. If it weren’t for him you’d be the ugliest politician walking.”
Jordan, a vocal Trump defender, is a former wrestling coach at Ohio State, who has been accused of failing to report a scandal in which a doctor sexually abused student wrestlers. He has denied misconduct.
Cruz responded to Perlman’s jab at Jordan, tweeting: “Listen Hellboy. You talk good game when you’ve got Hollywood makeup and stuntmen. But I’ll bet $10k – to the nonpolitical charity of your choice – that you couldn’t last five minutes in the wrestling ring with Jim Jordan without getting pinned. You up for it? Or does your publicist say too risky?”
Perlman replied: “Wait, is this THEE Ted Cruz? Holy s*** man! Is this the same guy let little Donnie call his wife a dog and his father an assassin and now kisses his ass? Yo, can I get your autograph man?”
He continued: “I tell you what Teddy boy, since mentioning Jim Jordan and wrestling is … problematic, why don’t we say f*** him and just make it you and me. I’ll give 50k to Black Lives Matter and you can keep all the taxpayer money you were thinking of spending.”
Cruz responded: “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?”
“Squint and imagine if women ran everything,” former Texas Tribune editor Emily Ramshaw said, commenting on the exchange.
New York Times reporter Maggie Astor added: “God, men are exhausting.”
