Pat Robertson: Orlando Nightclub Shooting Was God’s Punishment for Homosexuality-Fiction!
Summary of eRumor:
Pat Robertson has been quoted as saying that the shooting at Orlando Pulse was God’s way of punishing America for the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling.
The Truth:
A fake news website is behind false reports that Pat Robertson said the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting was God’s way of punishing America for the SCOTUS ruling on same-sex marriage.
The fake report appeared at the website Newslo, a hybrid fake news website that allows readers to “show facts” or “hide facts” in its stories. The website (falsely) reported that Pat Robertson said:
Pat Robertson, conservative televangelist who is no stranger to anti-gay remarks, was among the first to comment on the incident. Spotted at the scene of the event, Robertson made several interviews to reporters who were covering the story. Among other things, The 700 Club host told reporters he flew in via private jet from his home in Virginia immediately after hearing about what he referred to as “a justified terrorist attack.”
Several eyewitnesses claim Robertson was wearing slippers and a bathrobe while being interviewed, as well as that “he was difficult to recognize without makeup.” One eyewitness even stated, “If it wasn’t for the name on his golden bathrobe, I would have thought I was seeing a mummy giving out statements.”
“I don’t even need to tell you what all of this means,” Robertson said, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “This is how God is punishing us for the shameful SCOTUS ruling on same-sex marriage, a catastrophic piece of legislature that I have so vigorously attempted to shoot down. I kept repeating it during every single episode of The 700 Club, but nobody wanted to believe poor, old Pat. Everybody thought me for a fool. Well, I hope this is a step in the right direction. I hope people will finally start to see the light after this,” a very distressed Robertson is credited as saying.
Despite the fact that Newslo clearly identifies itself as a “hybrid news/satire platform,” the fake Robertson report was picked up and re-reported as fact the U.K.’s Mirror. The story was later taken down, but its electronic digital can still be found online:
So, reports that Pat Robertson said the Orlando nightclub shooting was God’s way of punishing America for the SCOTUS same-sex marriage ruling is false.