Overview
- Platner, who apologized Wednesday, said he was sorry for using the slur and that he is trying to improve every day.
- The Maine Monitor quoted him using the word while dismissing concerns about a skull tattoo that resembles the Totenkopf used by Nazi SS units, which he later covered in October 2025.
- Disability Rights Maine said the term is harmful because it reinforces stigma and diminishes the dignity of people with disabilities.
- Reports noted he used the same word in past Reddit posts, and Gov. Janet Mills’ campaign has highlighted those posts in attack messaging.
- Media coverage has widened the fallout, with Mother Jones drawing attention to the language early in the week and Fox News publishing the explicit quote from his interview.