
Ethan Schmidt, a right-wing anti-LGBTQ+ activist who once threatened to "hunt" down gay people and was once filmed destroying a Pride collection at a Target store, has gone viral after screenshots of Schmidt's alleged activity on a gay dating app surfaced on social media.
Twitter users shared what appeared to be sexually-explicit conversations the Arizona-based extremist had with a man on Grindr.
'I'm Hard for You'
In one of the images, the person Schmidt, who also goes by Ethan Schmidt-Crockett, is allegedly having a conversation with, asks him for a face pic.
"I don't know man I'm kind high profile and discreet," he allegedly replies. The individual then requests for a selfie.
"Ok daddy but only cuz I'm hard for you," Schmidt allegedly responds before sharing a photo of himself.
[Ethan Schmidt]
— Faketriots Reporter (@Faketriots) May 25, 2023
Possible 'Ethan Schmidt looking for guys on Grindr' photos have been found!
Ethan wants to get in bed with this guy. pic.twitter.com/zbvycxYEq8
The screenshots were taken from a video previously posted by popular social media user @TizzyEnt who called out Schmidt's hypocrisy.
Ethan Schmidt exposed for being a fruit on gay apps ðŸ¤ðŸ¤ pic.twitter.com/8gNJXoJZud
— ð–Œð–”ð–™ð–ð•ð–”ð™®â˜¹ï¸Žâ˜ï¸ (@Broitsaj_) July 23, 2022
Although Schmidt claimed at the time that the screenshots were fake, the images have now gone viral and have evoked some amusing responses from netizens who seemed far from surprised with Schmidt's social media activity. Here are some of the reactions:
— RS Thomas ðŸ³ï¸â€ðŸŒˆ (@RSThomas42) May 28, 2023
Shocked pic.twitter.com/lNNeOzPfrA
— Big Jeff (@bigjeffd) May 28, 2023
— Randomly Wild (@RandomlyWild) May 28, 2023
Schmidt's Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks
Schmidt has been notorious for his attacks on the LGBTQ+ community. Last month, he filmed himself going on a homophobic rant over a "Read with Pride" book display at a Barnes & Nobles.
In June last year, the Mesa Police Department issued a warrant for Schmidt's arrest after he failed to appear for a scheduled court date on June 6, according to Mesa Municipal Court records. According to a court official, the June 6 hearing was regarding a charge against Schmidt-Crockett for "failure to comply with the law."
Previously, Schmidt threatened to "hunt" LGBTQ rights supporters in a video posted to Twitter and, in a different video, harassed Target employees about the company's pride-themed campaign for Pride Month.
These are the people Target is caving to. Ethan Schmidt has promised to similarly go after Target and LGBTQ+ people this year:pic.twitter.com/QCK9DY7TjI
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) May 24, 2023