Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi drew a wave of online backlash after appearing at a public tribute honoring Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir, with social media users accusing her of acting strangely during the event.
Thousands gathered Saturday at San Francisco’s Civic Center for a homecoming-style memorial celebrating Weir, who died earlier this month at 78. The crowd included longtime “Deadheads,” musicians, and political figures — among them Pelosi, who has publicly described herself as a fan of the band.
Pelosi, 85, took the stage to share remarks about Weir and appeared to sing and sway as musician John Mayer performed the Grateful Dead classic “Ripple.”
At several points during her speech, Pelosi seemed to trip over her words while praising Weir’s impact.
“Bobby Weir was not just a magician, musician — a magician too — he was a force of nature,” Pelosi said.
She also used the moment to deliver a voting message, telling the crowd Weir valued democracy and urging attendees to participate at the ballot box.
“[Weir] gave me this sign, and I’ll show it today, because I said Bobby really loved democracy, he loved our country,” she said, holding up a sign that read “vote.” “You know what he wanted everybody to do? Vote!”
Clips from the appearance quickly spread online and sparked sharp reactions.
“Is Nancy Pelosi drunk at the Bob Weir Homecoming?” one user posted on X.
Others focused on her wardrobe, noting she wore a bright magenta suit while most people on stage appeared dressed in black.
“Nancy Pelosi wearing a very somber magenta on stage at Bob Weir’s funeral,” another user joked on X.
Some commenters also questioned why Pelosi was included at all, pointing to her announcement that she plans to retire from Congress when her current term ends in 2027.
“Why is [Nancy] Pelosi speaking at this Bob Weir memorial,” one user wrote on X.
“My bingo card today didn’t include Nancy Pelosi singing ‘Ripple’ along with John Mayer at the Bobby Weir send off,” another added.
The tribute also featured appearances by folk legend Joan Baez and country singer Wynonna Judd, according to local reporting.
Weir died on Jan. 10, his family confirmed in a statement posted to his Instagram account.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir. He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could,” the statement read, adding that he died due to lung problems.
