Comedian and actress Margaret Cho ignited [1] a wave of backlash after posting a video on Instagram in which she mocked the death of Senator Lindsey Graham and expressed hope that Senator Mitch McConnell would be next.
In the clip, shared with her 427,000 followers on Sunday, Cho delivered a series of jokes referencing Graham’s passing.
The video quickly drew strong reactions online, particularly for the harsh tone directed at recently deceased and living political figures.
Cho, known for her outspoken comedy, opened the video by referring to Graham as a closeted homosexual.
She then joked about his death while implying that she looked forward to other conservative leaders meeting the same fate.
“From the closet to the coffin – real seamless,” Cho said in the video, before continuing with, “So it’s Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham…it does happen in threes. Hope.”
Though Cho did not explicitly name a third person she was referencing, her post included the hashtag #fdt, which typically stands for “Fuck Donald Trump.”
The post also contained the hashtag #pride, adding another layer to her reference to Graham’s sexuality.
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Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, died this weekend at the age of 71 following what officials described as a sudden illness.
His death prompted an array of public responses from across the political spectrum.
While many prominent figures offered condolences and tributes to Graham’s long career, others chose sharply critical or sardonic tones similar to Cho’s.
The comedian’s remarks, however, stood out for directly tying humor to the senator’s death.
Among critics who took a less sympathetic stance, comedian Michael Ian Black commented that Graham’s legacy would largely be defined by what he called “parasitic fealty.”
He described Graham’s relationships with John McCain and Donald Trump as opportunistic, adding that “his relationship with Trump will be remembered as that of enabler-in-chief.”
Actor Ethan Embry also weighed in with a dismissive reaction, saying, “I don’t see what the celebration is all about, there’s still 51 of em walking around.”
Cho’s comments arrived amid a broader national discussion over public reaction to the sudden death of political figures.
While many mourned Graham’s passing, others on social media used the opportunity to critique his political record or his alliances within the Republican Party.
Her video drew both laughter and condemnation among her followers, with some praising her dark humor and others calling the post inappropriate and cruel.
The tone and timing of her remarks have continued to fuel debate over whether comedians should place any limits on political commentary, particularly in moments of grief or tragedy.
In the days since posting, Cho has not publicly clarified or apologized for the video.
The post remains on her Instagram page, still collecting views and divisive comments from supporters and critics alike.
Meanwhile, tributes continued to pour in for Graham, including statements from political allies and even some critics who set aside policy disagreements to acknowledge his decades in public service.