British reality TV star Andy West sparked outrage Sunday after he posted a tweet encouraging people not to pray for the Christians killed in Sri Lanka.
The British “Big Brother” star specifically targeted Christian ministries in his controversial tweet thread, according to a report published Tuesday by the New York Post. A series of suicide bombings targeted at Christian churches and popular tourist hotels killed 290 and injured more than 500 in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, CNN reports.
There is no excuse for terror attacks against innocent people but as a journalist I saw Western Christian missionaries unscrupulpusly converting Buddhist orphans for food and shelter after the Asian tsunami. Don’t send your prayers. #SriLankaBlasts https://t.co/rFNMShqfW1
— Andy West (@AndyWestTV) April 21, 2019
West reacted to the bombings on Twitter writing, “There is no excuse for terror attacks against innocent people but as a journalist I saw Western Christian missionaries unscrupulpusly [sic] converting Buddhist orphans for food and shelter after the Asian tsunami. Don’t send your prayers.”
The tweet immediately sparked backlash from other users. One person wrote, “Andy as a Sri Lankan Buddhist: Delete this and never even think to say anything this callous ever again.” (RELATED: One Word Noticeably Absent As Trump, Obama, Hillary And 2020 Democrats Respond To Sri Lanka Attacks)
West then defended his position, pivoting to an attack on Christian ministries.
The reality star ended his rant by claiming he was “pleased” to have various “angry right wing American Christian zealots” responding to his tweets.