Mitt Romney was a notorious high school prankster whose antics may have verged on gay bashing. Romney, while a student at an elite Michigan prep school in 1965, tormented a flamboyant fellow student for his dyed hair.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee then gathered his prep school posse and pinned the student, John Lauber, to the ground.
Romney pulled out a pair of scissors and forcibly cut Lauber’s hair, the paper said.
The incident is at the center of a wide-ranging story that paints Romney, now considered by many to be stiff and almost humorless, as somewhat of a wild student.
The ex-Massachusetts governor, when asked about the report Thursday, was quick to apologize.
“Back in high school, I did some dumb things,†Romney said during a radio appearance. “If anybody was hurt by that or offended, obviously I apologize.”
He also denied the incident – which comes to light just a day after President Obama came out in favor of same-sex marriage – was tantamount to gay bashing.
“I certainly don’t believe that I thought the fellow was homosexual,†Romney said. “That was the furthest thing from our minds back in the 1960s.â€
The candidate’s time at the tony Cranbrook School was recreated by the newspaper in a series of interviews with students, including members of Romney’s group of friends.
