Fact Check: About the Rumor Tom Selleck Said 'I Refuse to Debate Gun Control with Anyone Who Believes Men Can Have Babies'

Claim:

Tom Selleck said, "I refuse to debate gun control with anyone who believes men can have babies."

Rating:

On June 17, 2024, a user on X named @TRUMP_ARMY_ posted (archive) a purported quote from "Blue Bloods" actor Tom Selleck. According to the post, Selleck recently said, "I refuse to debate gun control with anyone who believes men can have babies." As of this writing, the post received more than 4,000 replies, 11,000 reposts and 108,000 likes.

One user replied to the post, writing "That mustache is biblical and has spoken. I agree with it."

Another user referenced Selleck's long-running TV series, posting, "Tom Selleck is a great PATRIOT, and a great ACTOR! 'Blue Bloods' is my favorite series – the best!"

X user Pamela Hensley (@PamelaHensley22) appeared to publish the first publicly-available post (archive) containing the quote alongside Selleck's photo and name, on May 2, 2024.

No Evidence Selleck Said the Quote

However, not even one shred of evidence exists to confirm the quote originated with Selleck. In other words, the user @TRUMP_ARMY_ and other online users all misattributed the quote to the actor.

A Google search for the quote about debating gun control and men having babies displayed only seven results. Those results included links to iFunny.co and other posts on X.

Had Selleck made the remark about guns and the subject of transgender identity — or any similar comments referencing people who identify as LGTBQ+ — numerous entertainment and political news outlets would have reported on the matter. We found no such articles.

Snopes reached out to a representative for Selleck to ask about the fake quote. We also sent messages on X to both @TRUMP_ARMY_ and Hensley asking about why they would post fake quotes to their followers. We will update this story if they respond.

The Original Selleck Quote Post

A user replying to Hensley's May post asked, "Did he, or are you just lying for engagement?" The user then jokingly posted fthat ormer U.S. President Abraham Lincoln said, "Don't believe the grifters' lies."

For further reading, in 1999, the Tampa Bay Times reported about Selleck's infamous on-air debate with Rosie O'Donnell about guns and the Second Amendment.

Sources:

Dao, James, and Don van Natta Jr. "N.R.A. Is Using Adversity to Its Advantage." The New York Times, 12 June 1999, https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/12/us/nra-is-using-adversity-to-its-advantage.html.

"O'Donnell, Selleck Gun Debate Won't End." Tampa Bay Times, 22 May 1999, https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1999/05/22/o-donnell-selleck-gun-debate-won-t-end/.