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The Aspen bar owned by the man who was seen groping Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) in footage captured prior to both being kicked out of a Denver theater has been flooded with bad reviews since he was publicly identified, the New York Post reports.
Quinn Gallagher, 46, a reported Democrat who was identified as Boebert's date when the two I, is the co-owner of the Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar which had previously hosted "a winter Wonderland Burlesque & Drag Show," the New York Post reported, citing a since-deleted Facebook post shared in January 2020. Numerous Facebook users accused Gallagher of hypocrisy for reaping the financial benefits of the LGBT community while dating Boebert, 36, one of the most anti-LGBT members of Congress.
"Owners are hypocrites. Host drag shows while he dates a bigot who rallies against the people he caters to," a Facebook user wrote.
“Gotta love a place that will take your money, but hang out with bigots who deem you worthless and vote against your very business existing,” a woman posted, along with a screengrab of footage showing Gallagher and Boebert during the incident at Denver’s Buell Theater.
The woman provided a receipt to prove she attended the show, as well as a photo showing she had sat behind Boebert.
Gallagher was later identified as Boerbert's apparent date to see Beetlejuice: The Musical at the Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre before the two were escorted out for what employees called "unruly" behavior, which reportedly included vaping, singing loudly and taking photos during the show. The divorced father of one is the co-owner of Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in Aspen and reportedly scandalized his Democratic-leaning family by going out with the outspoken Republican politician, according to the source.
“It’s very surprising. I always thought Quinn was a cool guy and a Democrat. His parents would be horrified because they are definitely blue,” the source told the Daily Mail.
Boebert and Gallagher were reportedly warned about their behavior by ushers during intermission before security received "another complaint about the patrons being loud and at the time (they) were recording five minute into the second act," according to the Denver Post.
“They told me they would not leave. I told them that they need to leave the theater and if they do not, they will be trespassing,” an usher said. “The patrons said they would not leave. I told them I would (be) going to get Denver Police. They said go get them.”
Surveillance video shared by 9News shows Boebert and Gallagher being escorted away from their seats and out of the building with the congresswoman stopping several times, which included appearing to take a selfie and multiple instances where she seemed to yell at security.
Boebert reportedly resisted exiting and asked theater employees, "Do you know who I am," while also saying, "I am on the board" and "I will be contacting the mayor," according to an incident report obtained by the Denver Post. Police arrived at the theater and were present in the lobby until Boebert and Gallagher left the building.
Boebert and Gallagher were seen holding hands as they left the venue, which included Gallagher spinning the congresswoman as they walked through an empty plaza. The incident report didn't identify the two individuals, however, Boebert and her campaign manager, Drew Sexton, both confirmed her dismissal.
“I can confirm the stunning and salacious rumors: in her personal time, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is indeed a supporter of the performing arts (gasp!) and, to the dismay of a select few, enthusiastically enjoyed a weekend performance of Beetlejuice” Sexton said in a statement to the Denver Post.
Sexton did confirm that Boebert used her phone to take a picture of the show despite cellphone usage being prohibited during performances. Boebert, a mother of four and grandmother to one, filed for divorce from her husband, Jayson, in May after nearly two decades of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences."