NEED TO KNOW
Meghan McCain is speaking out after a guest on Tucker Carlson’s podcast referred to her father, the late Sen. John McCain, as “gay.”
On the Monday, Dec. 8, episode of her podcast Citizen McCain, the host, 41, opened up about right-wing figure Milo Yiannopoulos’ recent comments about her father while he appeared on Carlson’s podcast last week to discuss “closeted gays” in conservative media.
“They had a guest on who, among other things, talked about how my dad was gay because of his foreign policy — or there was [nothing] gayer than my dad’s foreign policy,” she said, recounting Yiannopoulos’ statements on the Dec. 3 podcast episode.
In one clip, Yiannopoulos says, “I’m not saying he was a practicing homosexual physically, but is there anything gayer than John McCain’s bloodlust?” as he and the former Fox News commentator discussed the late Arizona representative’s views on foreign policy.
Heidi Gutman /Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
“My dad had five children, was married twice,” McCain continued. “He was married to two women, and not to make this weird for everybody, but he was, like, a notorious ladies’ man before he got married. He actually dated a stripper when he was in college at the Naval Academy.”
“It’s a story that’s in his book, I’m not speaking out of turn,” she explained. “It was, like, a little mild controversy when he ran for office.”
“I don’t care. My dad really loved women,” McCain finished. “Apparently, everyone’s gay, according to this commentator.”
McCain also addressed Yiannopoulos’ comments about her being “fat” — during which he said, “I mean, he’s even got the fat friend. It’s his daughter,” referring to Sen. McCain and Meghan.
“He even bred the fat best friend. Is there a more ostentatious fat hag in America than Meghan McCain? You know, she hates herself. She’s fat. She’s crazy. She’s every gay man’s dream,” the right-wing figure said.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty
“I have been fat shamed in my career since I started in media,” McCain said during her podcast. “People really have a real hard-on about the fact that I’m not skinny. I don’t know why it’s so threatening in the age of Ozempic and hyper diets and whatever…these are disgusting trolls and it’s disgusting commentary.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The podcaster — who is expecting her third child with her husband, Ben Domenech, PEOPLE reported exclusively in June — previously addressed Yiannopoulos’ comments about her weight in a post on X.
Brian Cahn/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
“Yes, I am very fat, I’m almost 9 months pregnant with my third child,” McCain wrote. “I am also very happy.”
“I don’t care how many times Tucker talks about being a Christian, that is not Christian behavior to engage in such a conversation on one of the largest podcasts in the world,” McCain continued, adding that this is the “kind of meanness to women and hypocrisy” that explains why conservatives have “such a problem with women voters of my generation.”
“Don’t feel bad for me, people have been calling me fat since I started in media at age 22,” the former The View co-host wrote. “It is old, lazy, tired. I don’t make my living off of ugliness like that and truly can’t fathom what life is like for anyone who does. It must be very dark.”
