Coldwell Banker has apparently decided to part ways with a lifestyle correspondent who appeared on Fox News and said Santa Barbara shooter Elliot Rodger may have been battling "homosexual impulses" before he killed six people Friday.
Reality TV psychotherapist Dr. Robi Ludwig went on Fox News' "Justice with Judge Jeanine" Saturday to discuss the rampage that occurred near the University of California, Santa Barbara on Friday night. Rodger wrote a rage-filled manifesto about his hatred toward women and frustration over being a 22-year-old virgin.
Ludwig shared her view on Rodger's issues.
"When I was first listening to him, I was like, ‘Oh, he’s angry with women for rejecting him,'" she said during the Fox News segment, "and then I started to have a different idea: 'Is this somebody who is trying to fight against his homosexual impulses?' Was he angry with women because they were taking away men from him? ... Was he angry at the men for not choosing him? ... He couldn't feel loved, he couldn't feel successful, maybe he couldn't even feel like a real man."
Writer, activist and HuffPost Gay Voices blogger Scott Wooledge brought the comments to the attention of Coldwell Banker by posting a link to the clip on the real estate company's account.
The company responded on Tuesday afternoon, writing: "Dr. Robi’s comments on the tragedy in Santa Barbara do not represent the opinions of Coldwell Banker. Therefore at this time we feel it best to part ways with her as our lifestyle real estate correspondent."
Ludwig took to social media on Monday to clarify her comments, saying she was "misunderstood":
I in NO way meant to indicated being homosexual or having homosexual impulses is a cause for spree killing. My job @judgejeanine was to assess several POSSIBLE triggers for #ElliotRodgers behavior. #peace #forequalrights However, I [a]pologize to ... all of those who felt offended. That was never my intention.
UPDATE: June 9, 2:43 p.m. -- Ludwig has since removed the Instagram and Facebook posts.