Margaret Cho's Fiery Response to Lindsey Graham's Death

When news broke on Sunday, July 12 that South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham had died at age 71 from a brief and sudden illness, the political sphere braced for the usual expressions of condolence. But Margaret Cho had a different take.

The 57-year-old comedian and vocal LGBTQIA+ advocate wasted no time posting her reaction to TikTok, where she delivered a pointed jab at the late senator’s long-rumored sexuality.“Bye Lindsey, bye Lindsey Graham. From the closet to the coffin, real seamless. Real seamless,”Cho said in the video, captioned simply“Bye gurl.”The comment landed as a reference to decades of public speculation about Graham’s personal life—a topic Cho clearly felt was fair game in the immediate aftermath of his passing.

But Cho wasn’t done. Her post pivoted to take aim at fellow Senator Mitch McConnell, who has been hospitalized since June 14 after being found unconscious at his home and subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia.“So, it’s Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham … it does happen in threes,”she wrote, seemingly suggesting another prominent Republican might be next.“Hope,”she added, a single word that spoke volumes.

The response from Cho’s followers was swift and enthusiastic. Supporters flooded the comments celebrating what they saw as unapologetic political commentary from an entertainer who’s spent years speaking out against the Trump administration and policies she views as hostile to marginalized communities. For them, Cho’s willingness to mock Graham without softening her stance in the face of death felt like a rare moment of unflinching honesty in a culture often bound by the expectation of respectful silence when someone passes away.

The incident wasn’t an isolated hot take either. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel also weighed in on Sunday, editing his own face into McConnell’s hospital bed photo—a lighter touch of political humor, but comedy nonetheless. Kimmel, who’s currently on a two-month hiatus from hosting duties, paired the image with a cheeky caption:“For those who’ve been asking, I’m feeling great.”

What Cho’s post ultimately exposed is a deeper tension in how we discuss public figures—particularly those whose political positions have direct consequences for vulnerable populations. For her supporters, the fact that Graham was a senator with considerable power over policy made him fair game, even in death. For others, the comments crossed a line of decency. It’s a divide that reveals less about Graham himself and more about what we believe political figures owe us after they’re gone.