This didn’t last long … he should trade business cards with Anthony “Mooch” Scaramucci.
I'm excited to start my tenure as pastor of Bethany United Church of Christ with #TwitterlessPalmer preaching this Sunday, April 2nd. pic.twitter.com/SUCIM0yYSl
— Rev. Rob Lee (@roblee4) March 27, 2017
Rev. Rob Lee, unlike Asian-American sports announcer Robert Lee, really is a descendant of the Confederate general, and in its rush to present the most woke MTV Video Music Awards ever, the cable network invited Lee to give a short speech on white supremacy during the telecast — which, incidentally, was the lowest-rated awards show in MTV’s history:
The 2017 VMAs drew the lowest ratings in MTV history https://t.co/JOPvAiR25S pic.twitter.com/sGHSC0MOG3
— Complex (@Complex) August 30, 2017
The rest of the nation had turned its attention to Hurricane Harvey, but MTV had already prepped an evening of Trump-bashing and righteous speeches about Charlottesville. And so Lee had his 30 seconds in the spotlight:
“I call on all of us with privilege and power to confront racism and white supremacy head-on" – Robert Lee IV #VMAs pic.twitter.com/ko4SM9VnaU
— MTV (@MTV) August 28, 2017
We don’t know all the details, but something about Lee’s appearance didn’t sit right with his church, it appears. On Sunday, he announced his resignation from Bethany United Church of Christ.
I had to resign my pastorate today. I hope you all will pray for me.
— Rev. Rob Lee (@roblee4) September 3, 2017
We will, actually — but just the fact that he quotes from “Harry Potter” and not the Bible would be reason for us to ask for his resignation — read another book, people.
“Dark times lie ahead of us and there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right.”- Albus Dumbledore
— Rev. Rob Lee (@roblee4) September 3, 2017
Someone just asked me was it worth it… Was it worth losing everything.
Unequivocally yes.
— Rev. Rob Lee (@roblee4) September 3, 2017
OK, don’t talk about losing everything while people are still sleeping on cots in Houston, OK?
My statement to Spectrum News Charlotte on my resignation from Bethany United Church of Christ. I ask for your continued prayers. pic.twitter.com/BdRkw2p7Hd
— Rev. Rob Lee (@roblee4) September 4, 2017
Here’s a bit of what Lee, a white guy, had to write in the Statesville Record & Landmark after his VMA appearance:
I’m a white guy from the Piedmont of North Carolina. I was raised in the same area I now live; I never thought I would be on a worldwide platform like MTV’s Video Music Awards this past Sunday. I’m quickly realizing that I have quickly become a lightning rod for all kinds of hate and fear surrounding perceptions of the Black Lives Matter movement and the Women’s March on Washington. But my friend and mentor Bishop Karen Oliveto has this to say about lightning rods:
“You are drawing harm that would be directed elsewhere in the house. Remember that the best thing about a lightning rod is that the house will stay intact as long as you stay grounded.”
We doubt Lee has lost everything; someone will see to it that he gets his full 15 minutes of fame. But we’re still not sure how to interpret this tweet:
https://twitter.com/roblee4/status/904124548433502210
Yes, it does … but maybe we’re not hearing the same words.
what does it say?
— Smoke and Mirrors (@SugarKovalczyk) September 4, 2017
What does it say? Does this image from the exact same event say something different?
And as far as perceptions about the Women’s March, they come from reality: ask where Linda Sarsour planned to donate the money collected for her so-called “Harvey Hurricane Relief Fund.”
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Related:
I DON’T want my MTV: Guess what the #VMAs didn’t talk about at the start of tonight’s broadcast https://t.co/nEYesoGqSb
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) August 28, 2017
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