CrosswordNewsletters
DAILY BEAST
ALL
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • Innovation
  • Opinion
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
  • Travel
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    SCIENCE
    • Hunt for the Cure
    • Rabbit Hole
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDBs Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      HALF-FULL
        CULTURE
        • Power Trip
        • Fashion
        • Books
        • Royalist
        TECH
        • Disinformation
        SCOUTED
        • Face Masks
        • Clothing
        • Technology
        • Bedroom
        • Kitchen
        • Home
        • Fitness
        • The Case For
        • I'm Looking For
        • New Kids On the Block
        COUPONS
        • Adidas Promo Codes
        • DoorDash Promo Codes
        • H&M Coupons
        • Hotwire Promo Codes
        • Wine.com Discounts
        • Vitacost Coupons
        • Spanx Promo Codes
        • StubHub Promo Codes
        Products
        NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
        FOLLOW US
        GOT A TIP?

        SEARCH

        HOMEPAGE
        Fox News

        Hannity Compares Jailed Texas Salon Owner to Braveheart

        ‘FREEDOM!’

        Hannity also offered to pay the fine for Shelley Luther, who was jailed after she refused to apologize for violating a temporary restraining order by keeping her hair salon open.

        Justin Baragona

        Media Reporter

        Updated May. 11, 2020 12:44AM ET / Published May. 06, 2020 10:42PM ET 

        Fox News host Sean Hannity was so impressed on Wednesday by jailed Texas salon owner Shelley Luther’s refusal to apologize for keeping her business open despite a statewide stay-at-home order that he directly compared her to the Scottish folk hero that Mel Gibson portrayed in the movie Braveheart.

        Luther was found guilty on Tuesday of civil and criminal contempt for ignoring a temporary restraining order that prohibited her from operating her salon, which she kept open in violation of the state’s coronavirus protection orders.

        Judge Eric Moye called her “selfish” for the move but told her he’d consider just issuing a fine if she’d apologize and agree to keep her salons closed until Friday, when the state allows hair salons to reopen. She refused to do so, resulting in a 7-day sentence and a $7,000 fine.

        “I have to disagree with you sir, when you say that I'm selfish because feeding my kids is not selfish,” she responded. “I have hairstylists that are going hungry because they'd rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids being fed then please go ahead with your decision but I'm not going to shut the salon.”

        During his Fox News primetime broadcast on Wednesday night, Hannity brought on Luther’s boyfriend, Tim Georgeff, to discuss her case, which has quickly become a cause celebre among conservatives. After Georgeff said he knew his girlfriend wouldn’t back down after the judge said the word “selfish,” Hannity jumped in to make his movie reference.

        “Yeah. In a weird way, it’s obviously not quite the same thing, but remember the scene in Braveheart?” Hannity proclaimed. “‘The prisoner wants to say a word!’ Remember that, the end of the movie?!”

        “And then, Mel Gibson, what does he scream out? Freedom, at the top of his lungs,” the Fox host added.

        The scene in question features Gibson’s character William Wallace being tortured by a magistrate after England has condemned him to death for high treason. The magistrate offers to provide him a quick death if he just says “mercy,” only for Wallace to refuse, eventually shouting out “freedom” while being disemboweled.

        Later on in the interview, Hannity told Georgeff that he was willing to pay Luther’s fine, only to find out that he was too late as Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had already paid the fine.

        READ THIS LIST

        DAILY BEAST
        • Podcasts
        • Cheat Sheet
        • Politics
        • Crime
        • Entertainment
        • Media
        • Covid-19
        • Half Full
        • U.S. News
        • Scouted
        • Travel
        • Subscription
        • Crossword
        • Newsletters
        • Podcasts
        • About
        • Contact
        • Tips
        • Jobs
        • Advertise
        • Help
        • Privacy
        • Code of Ethics & Standards
        • Diversity
        • Terms & Conditions
        • Copyright & Trademark
        • Sitemap
        • Coupons
        © 2022 The Daily Beast Company LLC