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Louis Theroux: Most Hated Family in America

The Most Hated Family in America is a TV documentary written and presented by the BBC’s Louis Theroux about the family at the heart of the Westboro Baptist Church.

At the heart of the documentary is the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), headed by Fred Phelps and based in Topeka, Kansas. It runs the website GodHatesFags.com,[1] and GodHatesAmerica.com, and other websites expressing condemnation of LGBT, Roman Catholics, Muslims, Jews, Sweden, Ireland, Canada, The Netherlands, and other groups. The organization is monitored by the Anti-Defamation League,[2] and classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.[3][4] The group has achieved national notice because of its picketing of funeral processions of U.S. soldiers killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The church bases its work around the belief expressed by its best known slogan and the address of its primary website, “God hates fags”, and expresses the opinion, based on its Biblical interpretation, that nearly every tragedy in the world is God’s punishment for homosexuality – specifically society’s increasing tolerance and acceptance of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. It maintains that God hates homosexuals above all other kinds of “sinners”[5] and that homosexuality should be a capital crime.[6]

Louis Theroux stated that the Phelpses are the most extreme people he has ever met.[7]

Directed by: Geoffrey O'Connor

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  1. Judge not, that ye be not judged. These are the scariest people on the planet. With that I am referring to all hate groups not just this particular one.

  2. Man I would love to be the guy that hit that kid in the head with the cup.

  3. These people scare me. Their picketing is horrible and the way they talk to the interviewer like he’s some idiot is just apalling.

  4. Hm. Interesting documentary, but I would have liked to hear from those who were excommunicated/left the church. It would have been interesting to hear their point of views, and why they had left (and maybe in particular their views on religion now and their experiences in the “outside world” now that they’ve left). Also, I though it was kind of strange that Louis didn’t speak more on the Pastor’s broadcast; if you compare it to the video tapes of terrorist factions, there don’t seem to be too many differences.

  5. GOD is an all loving GOD but IDIOTS like these must put a lot of pressure on HIM to remain an all loving GOD.

    HE > i

  6. lol not against the law they can do what they want

  7. As horrible as they are, wishing RAPE UPON THEM makes you as bad as they are.

  8. How can you possibly teach children this bs? Horrible, disgusting, mislead, evil, ignorant, people.

  9. So funny one of her sons name is Gabriel.
    GAYbriel, hahahaah

  10. I just want to know how they know what God thinks.

  11. Some guy dressed in Jesus with an Ak-47 spraying the shit outta them. (excluding the kids).. then they’d learn 😀

  12. I believe these people are some of the most miss guided self proclaimed “followers of god” I have ever wittnessed. To have a belief in god spawned of the hatred for all others is just wong on so many levels. But for the rest of us to wish death and rape and other acts of violence on them isnt right either. For 1: it gives them more fuel to run on,
    and for 2: Engaging in hatred and violence (even towards them) makes us as evil as (I believe) they are. We should pray for people like that. Especially the children who are being taught these twisted twisted beliefs from their infancy.

  13. I’ve never said this about anyone……. but these girls should be raped. then they would know where true evil lies.

    • How could you wish rape on someone? That won’t teach them the difference between good and evil, love and hate. I think a lot of these comments are just as hateful as they are. They deserve love and respect just like everyone else, no matter what kind of awful things they say. They have the freedom to do it. What this documentary proves is that they are human beings and not these abstract ideas that you can easily pin hatred on. I can only hope that the cycle of hate between them and the people who hate them can be broken.

      Hatred stirs up disputes, but love covers all offenses. – Proverbs 10:12

  14. I get it. I watched for five minutes and felt disgusted as well.
    The children are indoctrinated from birth and this is the true crime. If an adult wants to express their right to freedom of speech, then they sow what they reap, but the children should be removed from this cultist church and placed into foster care to be re-educated about life, love and compassion. They need therapy.
    To be honest I am too angry to express myself in a coherant manner.

    • Unfortunately the children apparently need reconditioning, not just a new environment.
      Sad fact, they’ve probably been told this tripe while still in the womb.

      Funny part is, if there really is a God, he will not take lightly on those that persecute in his name under false pretenses.

      Hopefully.

  15. Christ all mighty, will somebody just shoot these fucking people! It would be gods will…..just joking there is no god.

  16. I grew up in Topeka, watching these people more and more frequently picket whatever they thought had some random connection to homosexuality. It never made any sense to me. This documentary is rather enlightening for one thing: irony. Think about all the technology they use, all the food, supplies, etc… all their external education. Don’t you think it’s possible AT SOME POINT that a homosexual was involved in providing them with something? For example, the cellphone the lady used – couldn’t it have been made in China by a homosexual? Or perhaps, the professor for that lawyer student might have been homosexual? I mean, come on! I remember reading a bit about Kinsey’s sex studies, showing that nearly all of us have SOME homosexual tendencies. Don’t tell me that a gay person hasn’t been involved in their lives FOR THE BETTER.

    • Even better is the irony that the little boy is running around in a Spiderman baseball cap. You can’t get more campy than Spider-man and all the other Marvel characters even if you tried! I mean they are the epitome of GAY!!! Oh, I best not say that or they will steel the poor kids hat from him and ban that from the ‘church’ too:-(

  17. They somehow twisted the word of God into some wicked cult. Their is no logic here.

  18. Disgraceful. I can help but think that someone is going to snap and kill one of these people to make a statement. Why can’t they just move to the edge of a third-world country where no one will have to deal with any of this?

    • Because then they would be converting people by the thousdands. I’d rather they be here and isolated in Kansas.

      Btw, third world doesn’t mean impoverished, just as first world doesn’t imply opulent.

  19. i dont even know what to say. those poor children. how can they believe in this so blindly the holes in there belief mean nothing?

  20. is they hate homosexuals so much how come they all dress like lesbians?

  21. Ive never been so disgusted, I cant wait for something terrible to happen to them. That will be truly something to thank god about.

  22. fuck off at least we don’t pussy out after terrorist attacks

  23. the reason the girls dont have girlfriends is because
    1- they are a bunch of stupid, wrong bitchs
    2- they are ugle

  24. I read two comments and watched 2 minutes of this. Plan and simple: I know what I am fighting for and the fact that they are doing this shows that we truly have freedom of speech. I say good job in carrying out that right… you stupid stupid idiot. lack of knowledge can go a long way. How some one goes and just makes comments like that with out fully knowing what is going on in the world or even anything about the life others live and the fact that there are more productive things to do with your self than to just bash the country and military and homosexuals. if you dont like it then leave i am sure that there is another place that will take your attitude and views and then kill you later one for expressing yourself.

  25. These are the dumbest fucking people I’ve ever witnessed. There is no way around it, it’s a cult. They are brainwashing their children and destroying their lives. I feel so sorry for those kids, they were fucked from the beginning. I hope a car “accidentally” runs over them, GODS WRATH!!!!!!! lolololol

  26. So glad that none of the younger generation wants to get married/have kids. Perhaps these crazies will just die out.

  27. I actually want to kill these people and I’ve never wanted to do that before. I really want to find them and kill the whole family and its freaking me out.

    • you know you can google them or even look on google earth… not implying or saying anything just putting that out there if you want to learn more >_>

  28. Wow, i am just, wow. These poor people completely misread the Christian faith. Have fun in hell u sick people

  29. I am so proud of that man, I don’t think I would have the strength not to just attack these people. Whatever is out there, this must be its ultimate test.

  30. the english presenter sounds just like the guy from “gap yah” but the people in this thing are the biggest dickheads iiin the world.

  31. If ever prayer was needed, it’s for these people. So misguided and in the grip of evil. Pray for a true conversion of heart, turn to the Lord.

  32. Well I watched this whole thing. I also feel really bad for their kids. I wish I was Lois because during these interviews they had and conversations, there were so many things from the Bible that I could’ve pulled out and they would have no response. One major thing that stood out to me that I’m surprised that Louis didn’t talk about is that all over the Bible, love is constantly being mentioned. Us Christians know that God is love. We should live our lives based on love. And these people have so much hatred inside them towards any human being who isn’t part of their cult (which is about 99.999 perfect of the world’s population). How can they possibly say that they are living by the world of the Bible and serving God when they have so much hatred and are proud of it? I honestly don’t understand. Well thumbs up to Louis because I know I couldn’t stand being around them for 20 minutes. I’m so thankful that there are only a few of them!

  33. I live in Topeka and I constantly see these idiots with their signs chanting on the streets with their kids. Its sad really, but to give everyone a little hope, their “church” is constantly being egged, tped and sprayed. They give Christians a terrible name. I feel sorry for their kids…

  34. I miss when Howard Stern would have these people on his show to treat them like the sideshow freaks they are. The press coverage they get gives them too much legitimacy. They should be marginalized and treated like a joke like Jerry Springer did with the KKK.

  35. 8 minutes 34 seconds in and done. I’m appalled and angry, but nothing I feel hasn’t already been said here by someone else. So I’ll just leave on this note: Those bitches’ husbands must watch SO much porn.

  36. It”s quite sad actually, bunch of lives wasted by one sick bitch. The kids r completly fucked up 🙁

  37. Hell sounds really good if these people aren’t here…..
    I got really upset when the little boy got hit though that was very sad.

  38. This made me absolutely sick. My brother is fighting in Afghanistan right now, and knowing that there are people who are ignorant and disrespectful enough to go to a funeral for a fallen soldier with signs saying “Thank God for Fallen Soldiers” is not only wrong but it’s absolutely disgusting. Those soldiers are over there fighting for these people’s rights, including the right of freedom of speech, which in my opinion, these people certainly don’t deserve. No family deserves to be harassed in their time of grief, ESPECIALLY not when their son, daughter, brother, or sister was killed fighting for their country. I can’t believe that anyone would think it’s okay to do something like this.

  39. I would pay vasts ammounts of money to hit that family in the face with a baseball bat.

  40. When I first started this film, I felt so much anger towards these people. As the film progressed, the viewer is made to feel like they are a part of the family almost, and as said within the film the message they spread becomes almost less offensive. (clearly it is) In the end, I completely disagree with what these people are saying, and I do agree in that it seems as if it is founded in anger and hate. After having seen the film, I feel pity for these people. I feel pity especially for these young children, being given no choice in the corrupt mentalities being instilled upon them. I hope that God (yes I am a christian and do believe in God) has pity on their souls. They seem like they mean well, Wanting to “help” people and rejoice in God’s judgment,only they are corrupted in their beliefs.

  41. TBH this is America, the land of freedom. If these people wanna say all that, the more power to them. If you disagree then do you truely believe in freedom. FTR i dont agree with these people whatsoever. And noone should be subjected to a single religion at a young age.

  42. I at first like many was very angered at this family. I now am saddened by the fact that they feel so much hate towards the world. I cannot imagine going day to day “knowing” that the world I live in is going to end and everyone around me, with the exception of my family, was going to hell.
    I feel bad for the girls who truly don’t think anyone would marry them. The fact that they think nobody could love them except for their families is heartbreaking. The fact that the poor 7 year old boy got hurt standing up for beliefs he doesn’t even understand yet is horrible. We shouldn’t be hurting these people. If we do that to them we are no better. Remember the golden rule, treat others as you would want to be treated.

  43. Did anyone else catch on that they think death is a result of sin? Apparently these people think they are going to live forever??? When they die, everyone else is gonna be happy because their sister or whatever is going to Hell!!! Wonder what’s going to happen when their own preacher passes away.

    Also, why is it ok for the mom to marry and have 11 kids but not her children? What’s gonna happen when her children never have children and grow old and die. It actually gives me relief to know that the church will die out then.

    I’m not trying to sound hateful by any means, just logical. I’m actually very sad by this. These poor children are being brainwashed by their parents and the preacher. I pray to a LOVING God that He may open their minds and their hearts to others. The Bible states “Love Thy Neighbor.” So much for reading the Bible front to back.

  44. This guy is fucking terrible at being an investigative reporter. I hate that I actually agree with the members of the church regarding the interviewer. Next time try sending someone thats going to ask relevant questions instead of some douchebag with a weird British accent.

    • He doesn’t have a “weird” British accent, he has a perfectly normal Britsih accent, of which there are many.

      Your comment shows you to be as bigotted as the Phelps.

  45. Isn’t there something in the bible that says one of the 7 deadly sins is anger. When you get to the bottom of this, aren’t they just using these psycho twisted ideas to release there anger for something? Honestly, I think something bad might of happened to all of those children…. and the lady, Shirley or something

  46. Someone needs to find a way to get those children away from that lady before they become her. When she was a child, her parents preached the same to her, and now she’s been brainwashed to the point where she can’t think for herself, all she will do is defend what she has been taught her whole life.

  47. I can’t help but wonder if Fred Phelps really actually reads the Bible and if he does, does he know anything about the part where it talks about Jesus and what he has done for us? He didn’t come to this Earth to condemn it, He came to save it.

    As Christians we are to be like Jesus (not be Jesus) and Jesus didn’t throw any stone at any sinner; He stopped the stones from being thrown and pulled off all the “rocks” anyone was willing to let Him pull off. It sounds to me that Fred Phelps has a lot of stones and is so far buried in them he is terrified of the REAL TRUTH for what he might find of himself; which is probably why he never wanted to talk, so instead he just cast stones at everyone else to make himself feel better about his wrongdoings.

    I am a Christian and wish that other people who call themselves Christians would stop doing the opposite of what God tells us to be. A person in the Bible asked Jesus, “What is the greatest commandment?” and Jesus said, “To love your neighbor as you love yourself” and the second “To love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your strength.” Not all people who call themselves Christians are Christians.

  48. The only way we can purge ourselves from such hatred is to love unconditionally. Don’t fight these people, love them, and their point becomes moot.

  49. I think it is ironic how these people hate the US so much however if they were in almost any other country in the world, they would be blown off the face of the earth for saying things like that about their country. Just like anyone else who hates the US, if you don’t hate it so much then LEAVE. But no, they’d rather use the united states capitalistic society which they claim to hate so much and make millions off of this documentary. They can be thrown into a bucket with michael moore and shipped to north korea, talk badly about THEIR country and people… see what happens.

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