Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

California killings: Fox News expert says 'homosexual impulses' could have caused Elliot Rodger's killing spree

Dr Robi Ludwig said Rodger could have carried out shootings because he "didn't feel like a real man"

Tom Payne
Monday 26 May 2014 08:20 EDT
Comments
Rodger detailed his hatred for the girls who he blamed for his being a virgin at the age of 22, and the boys who they chose instead of him
Rodger detailed his hatred for the girls who he blamed for his being a virgin at the age of 22, and the boys who they chose instead of him

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A guest speaker on Fox News has suggested that Santa Barbara shooter Elliot Rodger could have been acting upon “homosexual impulses” when he targeted his victims.

Dr Robi Ludwig, a licensed pyscotherapist, was appearing on the channel’s Justice With Judge Jeanie programme when she made the remarks.

She says she read the 22-year-old gunman’s 137-page manifesto in which he vows to exterminate the majority of women, and came up with a new theory about the origin of Rodger’s rage.

“When I was first listening to him, I was like, ‘Oh, he’s angry with women for rejecting him’,” Dr Ludwig said.

“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 men away from him?”

Dr Ludwig continued: “Was he angry at the men for not choosing him? This is a kid who was just angry in general and probably felt rejected. He couldn’t connect. He could not feel loved. He couldn’t feel successful. Maybe he didn’t feel like a real man?”

In his rambling part-memoir, part-manifesto, Rodger described what he calls “My Twisted World”, his anger at the women he claims kept him a virgin his whole life and his vow for revenge against the men they chose instead of him.

During Friday’s rampage, Rodger stabbed his three flatmates to death before shooting dead two young women outside a sorority house and then killing a young man inside the local deli in the student beach community of Isla Vista.

Rodger, who according to the document was born in the UK and moved to California with his parents at the age of five, also posted a video to YouTube in which he says: “I’ll take great pleasure in slaughtering all of you.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in