Lucille Ball’s Daughter Reveals Her Mother’s Fear After Being Accused of Communist Ties

Lucie Arnaz, the daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, opened up about the impact on her family when her mother was accused of being a communist in 1953.

The Los Angeles Herald-Express ran the headline “Lucille Ball a Red” in red ink, which caused Ball to feel scared that people would believe she was actually a communist.

In an interview for Amazon's new documentary “Lucy and Desi,” Lucie Arnaz shared that her mother feared the accusations could destroy everything they had.

However, her father, Desi Arnaz, took charge during that week and took steps to protect his wife's reputation.

The controversy stemmed from the fact that Ball had registered as a member of the communist party when she registered to vote in 1936.

Ball's brother, Fred, revealed in archival footage shown in the documentary that both he and Ball registered as communists to appease their grandfather, who was a strong advocate for the working man.

In response to the accusations, Ball was interviewed by the FBI and The House Committee on Un-American Activities, a congressional committee established to investigate individuals suspected of having ties to fascism or communism.

Lucie shared that her mother was extensively interviewed by these organizations and was eventually cleared of any charges.

However, despite being cleared, the Los Angeles Herald-Express still ran the headline accusing Ball of being a communist.

To defend his wife, Desi Arnaz invited the press into their home and publicly stated that Ball had never been involved with the communist party.

Desi Arnaz went even further to clear Ball's name by inviting members of the press to a live taping of “I Love Lucy” and having J. Edgar Hoover, the director of the FBI, speak to him over the phone.

Lucie recounted how Hoover assured Arnaz that Ball was 100 percent cleared of any charges.

Arnaz then introduced Ball to the audience, declaring that the only thing red about her was her hair, and even that was not legitimate.

Ball received a standing ovation from the audience in response.

The documentary “Lucy and Desi” is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

It provides a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz during their iconic careers and personal lives.