A writer at Saturday Night Live has been suspended after posting a negative tweet about President Trump's ten-year-old son, Barron Trump. During last week's inauguration ceremony, Katie Rich predicted that "Barron will be this country's first home-school shooter", and immediately faced a huge backlash, with a petition to fire the writer reaching almost 80,000 supporters.
Although all past tweets have since been deleted, Katie issued an apology on her Twitter account on Monday, saying: "I sincerely apologise for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I'm so sorry."
© Photo: Getty ImagesBarron Trump pictured with his mother Melania
After learning of the incident, Monica Lewinsky was among those who came to the defence of the president's schoolboy son. "All children need to be protected from bullying + mockery (inc. #barrontrump)," she tweeted. "Let's be better than this."
Everything you need to know about Barron Trump
Monica's comments came just a few hours after Chelsea Clinton also spoke out in support of Barron.
© Photo: Getty ImagesMonica Lewinsky has spoken out in defence of Barron following comments made by SNL writer Katie Rich
"Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does – to be a kid," the 36-year-old commented on Sunday. "Standing up for every kid also means opposing POTUS policies that hurt kids."
Chelsea was 12-years-old when her father Bill Clinton was elected president, and spent the next eight years calling the White House home.
Barron Trump becomes first White House son in 50 years
Her comments did draw some criticism. One social media user called her a "hypocrite" on her Facebook page, saying, "If you agree kids should not be targeted, fine. Leave it at that. Otherwise collect your $600k a year and go away."
© Photo: Getty ImagesChelsea Clinton has also strongly criticised the cyber bullying
But others were more empathetic with the former First Daughter. "I remember your childhood in the White House. The media was sometimes very cruel," one fan wrote. "Children don't have a choice as to what their parents to. I hope he'll be allowed to just be a kid."
