Henry Winkler catches Twitter flak after declaring 'only a cataclysmic event' could unite country

Henry Winkler was caught in a Twitter controversy on Saturday after expressing the controversial opinion that it would take a cataclysmic event to unite a country divided by politics and social issues.

The Happy Days alum, 75, tweeted: ‘We are [so] divided as a country .. only a cataclysmic [event], that makes us depend on one another again, can bring us back together.’

The New York City native faced a hailstorm of criticism pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the September 11, 2001 attack, and other major events to rebut the Emmy-winning actor’s point of view.

The latest: Henry Winkler, 75, was caught in a Twitter controversy on Saturday after expressing a controversial opinion, that it would take a cataclysmic event to unite a country divided by politics and other social issues

‘There is a global plague and the ocean is on fire and infrastructure is collapsing and autocracy is rising and violent insurrectionists stormed the Capitol and none of those cataclysmic events united us so I’ll just assume you know something new about the UFOs and call it a day,’ author Sarah Kendzior said.

Some users pointed to the divisive political result of the pandemic.

‘The “leadership” of our nation in 2020 had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to simply be decent and to appeal to our common humanity,’ author John Pavlovitz wrote, referring to former President Donald Trump. ‘He did the opposite.

‘He weaponized the virus (and his supporters) against the rest of us. Just a tragedy.’

In response to one user, Winkler said that the coronavirus shutdown ‘was not it,’ as it ‘pushed us inside .. away from each other’

Winkler took to Twitter Sunday to clarify his previous statement on the matter, apologizing for his choice of words in the previous tweet 

In response to one user, Winkler said that the coronavirus shutdown ‘was not it,’ as it ‘pushed us inside .. away from each other.’

Fox meteorologist Mike Iscovitz took to the defense of the beloved actor, writing, ‘Henry Winkler is one of the nicest celebrities I’ve ever met.

‘A genuinely good person. He means well with this tweet, so give him a break.’

The New York City native faced a hailstorm of criticism pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the September 11, 2001 attack, and other major events to rebut the Emmy-winning actor’s point of view

Winkler, who played Fonzie on the series from 1974–1984, took to Twitter Sunday to clarify his previous statement on the matter, apologizing for his choice of words in the previous tweet.

‘To be clear .. I am not wishing for devastation,’ the Barry actor said. ‘My hope is for for our country to re unite again .. I ‘m so sorry for not being clear.’ 

Fox meteorologist Mike Iscovitz took to the defense of the beloved actor, writing, ‘Henry Winkler is one of the nicest celebrities I’ve ever met’

Some users pointed to the divisive political result of the pandemic