Yahoo Finance Scott Baio bashes 'Happy Days' Democratic fundraiser reunion: 'I'm not on board, obviously'
"Happy Days" alum Scott Baio didn't mince words about his former costars reuniting to raise funds for Wisconsin Democrats less than two weeks before the 2020 election.
"I'm not on board, obviously, because I don't believe in socialism and Marxism," Baio, 60, said Wednesday morning on "Fox Business."
Cast members Henry Winkler (“Fonzie”), Ron Howard (“Richie Cunningham”), Don Most (“Ralph Malph”), Anson Williams (“Potsie Weber”), Marion Ross (“Marion Cunningham”) and writer Lowell Ganz plan to reunite virtually Sunday to answer fan questions and share behind-the-scenes stories from the cast and crew. Viewer entry costs at least a dollar, with proceeds going to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Baio said who spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention in support of President Donald Trump, said he supports the president because he believes in "all things America."
"Here's what I don't get: To take a show like 'Happy Days,' that represented traditional American values, good morals, a slice of Americana, and to use that show and those ideals to promote two people in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris that condone, encourage and foment rioting and looting is a little bizarre to me," Baio said, mispronouncing the Democratic vice presidential candidate's first name.
While Biden has supported protesters’ right to demonstrate since protests began in May, he has also condemned any resulting violence on a consistent basis.
The first statement the Democratic presidential nominee publicly made regarding the matter was on May 29, when he told CNN that people “have a right to be, in fact, angry and frustrated. And more violence, hurting more people, isn’t going to answer the question.”
Fact check: Joe Biden has condemned protest-related violence all summer
Baio went on to criticize "Full House" alum John Stamos, who volunteered on Twitter to play Chachi after Baio's name was left off the announced cast list.
"It's good to know that Stamos is part of the Hollywood elite Marxist crowd," he said, adding "I think Stamos always wanted to be Chachi instead of playing second fiddle to a 3-year-old."
He also weighed in on fellow conservative actress Kirstie Alley facing backlash for sharing her political views, saying he can "completely empathize with what Kirstie is going through."
More: Kirstie Alley responds to 'nasty people' criticizing her decision to vote again for Donald Trump
He added: "I have been whacked pillar to post for years by people who are supposed to be all-inclusive and understanding and loving. They're fascists and you're not allowed to think outside of what they think and I find it disgusting."
On Saturday, Alley tweeted: "I’m voting for @realDonaldTrump because he’s NOT a politician. I voted for him 4 years ago for this reason and shall vote for him again for this reason. He gets things done quickly and he will turn the economy around quickly. There you have it folks there you have it"
Most recently, Baio has made headlines after his former "Charles in Charge" co-star Nicole Eggert alleged he sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined in 2018 to file charges against Baio, citing the expired statute of limitations, after Eggert went public with her accusations that February.
Eggert, now 48, took her assault claim to the Los Angeles Police Department following a Feb. 2018 appearance on the CBS daytime program "The Talk." Eggert alleged her experiences with Baio while filming "Charles in Charge" ranged from flirting and inappropriate touching when she was 14 to intercourse when she was 17. (Baio is about 12 years Eggert's senior.)
Baio denied all her claims, maintaining Eggert was "obsessed" with him at the time and displayed behavior that was "borderline stalking."
Contributing: Ella Lee, USA TODAY and Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Scott Baio slams John Stamos, Happy Days reunion, talks Kirstie Alley