Spring break madness is currently trending in the news cycle as thousands of students make a pilgrimage to Florida beach towns where there are little-to-no COVID restrictions.
During an appearance on Fox News last night, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) told Sean Hannity he’d “allowed” his “son” Nestor to head to Panama Beach, Florida.
“My son is a college freshman,” said Gaetz. “He had no real graduation, no prom, and I struggled with whether or not to allow him to enjoy spring break at Panama City beach. I allowed him to have an abbreviated one.”
He added that he “did not have a good night’s rest the entire time he was there until I knew he was safe, okay, and back at school.”
"My son is a college freshman. He had no real graduation, no prom, and I struggled with whether or not to allow him to enjoy spring break at Panama City beach. I allowed him to have an abbreviated one." — Matt Gaetz on Nestor pic.twitter.com/djrlUKjfCB
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 23, 2021
Now, the remark drew attention primarily because Nestor Galban is not Gaetz’s son.
Galban is the younger brother of an ex-girlfriend of Gaetz. The 19-year-old has apparently been living with the congressman on-and-off since he was 12.
While Gaetz refers to Galban as his “son,” he’s never adopted him.
The relationship came to light last year when after a clash during a hearing in Congress, Gaetz announced Nestor to the world as his son.
For all those wondering, this is my son Nestor. We share no blood but he is my life. He came from Cuba (legally, of course) six years ago and lives with me in Florida.
I am so proud of him and raising him has been the best, most rewarding thing I’ve done in my life. pic.twitter.com/JB96wzOzYU
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) June 18, 2020
Gaetz had never mentioned to the public he has a “son,” and had only referred to Galban in the public as a “local student,” “helper,” and “House page.” Never as a “family” member.
Look, if the 38-year-old Gaetz wants to have a younger boo, that’s fine as long as he’s of legal age. What isn’t cool, though, is voting against legislation like the Equality Act.
Gaetz also told Hannity’s viewers that people should feel free to “come to Florida and enjoy freedom.” He added that folks could go out to eat, get in some beach time and “get a little weird, not too weird.”
Asked to define “weird,” Gaetz explained, “Maybe a little body-paint here and there, maybe throw some beads, but don’t hurt anybody.”
Body-paint and beads. Good times…
At nearly 20-years-old, it seemed a bit odd to some that Galban would need permission from Gaetz to be “allowed” to spring break somewhere.
Many in the Twitterverse thought it a bit odd as well.
“allowed him”
Nestor is Matt Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend’s brother. He is not his son.— CALL YOUR SENATOR (202) 224-3121 (@sequinpants) March 23, 2021
The struggle … isn’t real. Nor is their familial bond.
— Matthew Rettenmund (@mattrett) March 23, 2021
Matt Gaetz has no sons, adopted or natural.
Calling Nestor his “son” is a fiction to disguise the awkwardness of a man’s having no legal relationship to his live-in teenage boy companion. https://t.co/C40aVc0Gt3
— Monty 🇺🇸Lincoln’s Speeches🇺🇸 Boa (@MontyBoa99) March 23, 2021
I want to hear from Nestor’s mom how she feels about an ex boyfriend acting like he has custody of her son.
Also he is an adult. Matt Gaetz “letting” him do things is weird and I’m starting to think they’re the same age. pic.twitter.com/kF7n1KPI4W
— Tippi | ♥️😷 ♥️ | BLM (@TrashFireT) March 23, 2021
Dear Matt: Everyone knows your boyfriend probably just needed a break from you.
— 🇺🇸🌊 Kal-El of Krypton 🏳️🌈🌽 (@MadeOnKrypton) March 23, 2021
I hope young Mr. Galban will get away from this creepy guy, and on to college finding anonymity if he wants it, along with safety, self respect and success in his new country. Folks, he’s 19 years old!
I hope he isn’t forever tied to Mr. Gaetz through no fault of his own. If he makes a different choice, then he’ll have to face what comes to him.
Well said. Seems to me that Ginger Luckey may not be
so lucky.l
Matt Gaetz.
Ewwww. Just ewwww.
Something about how Matt is leading his life doesn’t smell good.
Matt has some type of sexual addiction and/or mental health
dysfunction. He needs to back off, let go of a “son”, who is anything
but a son, an engagement that sounds shaky, and get some help.
You ppl. Are so racist. If this was a man whore like P.Clinton. or was for ripping babies out of ppl. There would be not a word.
But let someone take the role of a parent from a parent that could careless there is something wrong with him??? Let a man become a woman or the other way around they are fine. If there is anything wrong with any one its ppl. Like you . !!