While Robin Williams’ close friends and family are believed to be arriving in California for a small and very private funeral, reports have emerged that the controversial Westboro Baptist Church could be planning to picket the funeral of the late actor.
According to E! News, Williams’ wife Susan Schneider is said to be planning a “very private” funeral in the actor’s hometown of San Francisco, with family members and close friends starting to arrive in town ahead of the service.
A source told E! News:
“It will be small. They were both very private people.”
In addition to the private service, the source says a comedy benefit night will be held for the public in honour of the late actor, and is rumoured to take plac at the Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, California. Although it is believed to take place in the coming weeks, details have not yet been finalised.
News that the Westboro Baptist Church plan on picketing the private gathering started when the group began tweeting negative slogans and insults about the actor and his death on Monday.
According to The Independent, the group began using placards with negative slogans and photos of Williams at pickets this week and have publicly announced they plan on attending the memorial service via Twitter:
True! @justkpopfan: Robin Williams’ Funeral To Be Picketed By WBC; Twitter Of Group Condemns Actor For Using His Talent To Glorify Sin …
— Westboro Baptist (@WBCSays) August 14, 2014
Since the news broke of Williams’ passing, there has been an outpouring of love from fans and stars alike, including tributes from Irish fans, like this movement at a screening of Dead Poet’s Society in Dublin this week.
