Anti-Gay Church Group To Protest At Actor Robin Williams’ Memorial Service
A private memorial service is being planned for actor Robin Williams.
Williams, 63, was found dead in his San Francisco home on Monday. (11 August) According to the preliminary result of the forensic investigation, his cause of death was asphyxiation by hanging.
Close friends and family have started arriving at his home town in Tiburon, California, for the service. A source told E! News that the memorial “will be small,” as the couple were “both very private people.”
While most of the world is united in mourning the loss of the much-loved star, members of the controversial Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church are planning a protest at the actor’s memorial, over his portrayal of a gay man in the movie The Birdcage.
A message posted on the group’s official Twitter page reads: “Westboro Baptist Church Hopes To Preach In Lawful Proximity To Robin Williams’ Funeral – To Warn The Living: Repent Or Likewise Perish.”
News of the demonstration has sparked widespread condemnation and prompted organisers at the global non-profit organisation Planting Peace, to launch a fundraiser to counter the church’s plans.
A message from the charity’s co-founder Aaron Jackson reads: “Robin Williams played many different roles in so many people’s lives, and giving back to others was at the top of that list. His appeal crossed generational boundaries. I was personally impacted when I heard of his passing. This is a small gesture to honour his legacy and the difference he made to so many,” he said.
Jackson said that when the WBC announced they were protesting the star’s funeral, “we felt like launching a fundraiser for a charity Robin loved would be the perfect way to honour him and counteract the message of hate and intolerance that the WBC continues to convey.”
The proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit St Jude Children’s Hospital, which Williams supported during his life.
President Barack Obama led the tributes to Williams, describing him as “one of a kind,” while Hollywood continues to mourn the death of the comic genius.
Nawa for some ‘Christians’. The way some Christian folk can get so uppity and judgmental in the name of Christ who was nothing like that sometimes baffles me.
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15 Comments
simba
August 17, 06:50Tht church, they also did tht when Finn, Corey Monteith Died, the glee character. Until when someone spray then Ak47. They won’t rest their tired old ass. RIP Rob but abeg, suicide aint cool, no matter the circumstances. Cheers y’all
shuga chocolata
August 17, 07:17Cory monteith? But he wasn’t gay? Or did I miss something? Because he was with lea michele even outside glee, they were both lovers.
Deola
August 17, 07:28Athough he wasn’t, glee has a lot of gay characters and the show has been praised for their potrayal of said characters.
Westboro are just trouble makers, and the best way to respond to them is just to ignore their stupidity and cruelty and responf with kindness.
kendigin
August 17, 07:26if i talk now they will say am antichrist.
all of u going to church/mosque r wasting ur take. Religion is the greatest bondage and u dont need it to experience God/force/supreme being etc
Deola
August 17, 07:33I wouldn’t go as far As saying going to church or mosque is a waste of time kendigin, i am a muslim and although my religion preaches some bat shit crazy stuff like cutting the hand of a thief and all that, the thing is to not allow religion to take over your common sense and compassion.
If this guys had any compassion they wouldn’t be disturbing the memorial of this wonderful man,and then use religion as an excuse.
trystham
August 17, 07:32Repent or LIKEWISE perish??? The dude died albeit suicide. I guess dying kneeling in the pew would be “Transition into Glory”?
chestnut
August 17, 08:12Such foolishness! Seems like this misguided group is looking for 15 minutes of fame,anywhere they can find it. So they’ll just go looking for any dead actor who portrayed a gay role or (even more stupid), starred in a movie in which one or some of d (make-believe) characters were potentially gay and boycott his funeral? Again,such foolishness! They need to get their lives together and find something tangible to live for.
Dennis Macauley
August 17, 08:46Tear gas? Anyone? Yes please!!!
pinkpanthertb
August 17, 08:49Hahahahahahahaa!!! Oh Dennis, I’d love to say you are going to hell for this, but I’m sure the Westboro chaps will get there before anyone else.
therealsalte
August 17, 08:59This is one of the reasons I haven’t been to church for months. Some christians just make christianity so difficult and very uncomfortable. So irritating!
Dennis Macauley
August 17, 09:07Sunday after sunday, going to church is a struggle for me. My mom says too much “book” is gradually making me godless! But I ask her “why is it called the house of God when hypocrites live there”?
victor
August 17, 09:42That’s the same thing I tell mum,its so funny how everyone loves to play God but none of them are bold enough to challenge the pastors who tell them what they hear while enriching their pockets with the supposedly word of God that should have been free.
max
August 17, 14:55Same here… Every once in a while I quit church bcos of some anti-gay comment or some white lie they tell church goers who believe them…It pains me a lot that ppl Dnt use their common sense…they bliv everything they hear in church… I don’t even think they way this “judgment” thing will go(that’s if it exists), is how people portray it..If u must be clean as a whistle b4 u make it to heaven, then I don’t think anyone will make it…IMO
Arabian Princess
August 17, 15:33I tot Westboro is the name of a cigarette…. *confused
pinkpanthertb
August 17, 16:57Hahahahahaha!!! No, that’s Marlboro. But I get why you’d be confused. After all, both ‘–boros’ are bad for your health.