Nick Offerman responds to homophobic Parks and Rec tweet, taking a firm public stance against anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment after a fan‘s post gained attention at the start of Pride Month. The exchange unfolded on X (formerly Twitter), drawing significant reactions from both the public and key figures mentioned in the Parks and Recreation storyline.
On June 1, 2025, Michael Flynn Jr.—the son of retired Army lieutenant general and known conspiracy theorist Michael Flynn—shared a digitally altered video clip, aiming humor at Pride Month. The clip depicted Offerman’s character Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation throwing a pride flag into a trash can, diverging sharply from the original show scene where Swanson discarded a computer. Flynn Jr.’s caption read,
“Good morning and Happy Sunday! No quotes today. Just wanted to post how I feel about pride”
—Michael Flynn Jr. The tweet quickly engaged thousands, accumulating more than 2,000 likes.
Offerman’s Bold Reply Sparks Online Debate
Nick Offerman, recognized widely for his portrayal of Ron Swanson and his role in The Last of Us, chose to address the post directly. Two days after Flynn Jr.’s tweet, Offerman contacted Flynn Jr. on the same platform with a direct rebuttal, writing,
“Ron was best man at a gay wedding you dumb f—. #HappyPride,”
—Nick Offerman. This response referenced a memorable Parks and Recreation series finale moment, where Offerman’s character was best man at the wedding of Craig and Typhoon, a gay couple, highlighting how the homophobic reinterpretation misrepresented the show’s narrative.
Offerman’s comment ignited a wide spectrum of reactions. Some Twitter users shared words of support, calling Offerman “a king” and sending enthusiastic Pride wishes. Others disagreed vehemently with Offerman, contending the video was merely a meme and urging him, as Ron Swanson, to “keep politics out” of the conversation. Commenters varied from supportive to openly hostile, with quotes like
“You’re a dumb b— and your career died with Parks and Rec,”
—Unnamed Fan, and
“Relax Ron Swanson, it’s a meme. Keep politics out of s—. I liked you in parks and Rec. don’t ruin it,”
—Unnamed Fan.
Offerman’s Advocacy for LGBTQIA+ Rights
Nick Offerman’s firm response did not stand alone; the actor and his wife, Megan Mullally, have previously advocated for LGBTQIA+ equality. Both took part in a video campaign with Americans for Marriage Equality, supported by the Human Rights Campaign—recognized as the United States’ largest civil rights organization focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. Their involvement underlines a longstanding commitment to ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and promoting broader social acceptance.
This online exchange became a focal point for ongoing debates about media representations, public figures’ responsibility, and the friction between meme culture and social awareness during Pride Month. The responses to Nick Offerman’s public stance reveal the layered and complex dynamics present in today’s discussions about LGBTQIA+ rights and representation, signaling that such moments are likely to incite further dialogue in future cultural conversations.
