The Westboro Baptist Church says it will picket "Weird Al" Yankovic Tuesday evening at the Midland Theater in Kansas City.
The iconic performer on Monday posted an image of the group’s “news release.”
Westboro calls Al as an “opportunistic leech.” It also describes him as a fake Christian.
“Weird Al claims to be a Christian (i.e. a follower of Christ), yet supports fag marriage and gives his money to the HRC. How do you reconcile those two things?”
Not satisfied with that level of insult,
Westboro takes direct aim at Weird Al’s late parents.
“What religious upbringing did Al's parents give him? Did they teach him what the Lord requires of him? It sounds like they didn't. Could that be why swift judgment was brought against them, both dying at the same time due to carbon monoxide poisoning?”
Tragically, Al’s parents died in 2004 at their Fallbrook, Calif., home
in what Wikipedia describes as “accidental carbon monoxide poisoning from their fireplace.”
In an interview last year, Yankovic called the death of his parents "the worst thing that ever happened to me" . . .
Several hours after his wife notified him of his parents' death, Yankovic went on with his concert in Appleton, Wisconsin, saying that "since my music had helped many of my fans through tough times, maybe it would work for me as well" and that it would "at least ... give me a break from sobbing all the time." On [sic] a 2014 interview with Dan Rather, Yankovic called his parents' death "the worst thing that ever happened to me." He added that "I knew intellectually, that at some point, probably, I'd have to, you know, live through the death of my parents, but I never thought it would be at the same time, and so abruptly." -- Wikipedia.
Although Yankovic posted the Westoboro release Monday without comment,
his followers had plenty to say about it in more than 600 comments and counting expressing their disgust. Some encouraged Al to write a song about it.
Said one fan:
“Congratulations, Al! You pissed of the Westboro Baptist Church! I consider that an honor and an achievement.”
Added another admirer:
It was painful to read the tactless comments about your family. The week that tragedy occurred I was given a front row seat at your show. I was singing along to every word. It was my honor and privilege to give back after your music was there for me. You are a wonderful person and one of the most positive influences in my entire life. You will soar above them. If you choose to outright ignore or even troll 'em during Tacky I will be proud of you as always. I love you, Al. Keep being awesome.
As noted, how or whether Al chooses to deal with Westboro remains to be seen.
I wouldn’t blame him if he ignored the “church” altogether.
But if anybody could handle it. I mean, really.
Interestingly, Al kicked off his Sunday night St. Louis show in the street.
As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“That gentleman you might have seen strolling outside the Peabody Opera House last night at about 7:40, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and psychedelic striped pants and singing into a wireless microphone was 'Weird Al' Yankovic.
“The pop parody artist began his Peabody concert from just outside his tour bus parked on 15th Street. Singing “Tacky,” his take on Pharrell’s massive hit “Happy,” Yankovic strolled past stray fans and security guards, climbed the steps of the venue and entered the theater from the rear, a video camera following him all the way to the stage.”
Westboro plans to picket from 6:45 to 7:30 p.m.
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