“Former ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ and ‘Stand By Me’ star Wil Wheaton faced a backlash after denigrating prayers offered for the Texas shooting victims, tweeting if “prayers did anything, they’d still be alive,'” per Fox News this morning.
After news of an active shooter having at a church in Texas, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), tweeted his condolences:
Reports out of Texas are devastating. The people of Sutherland Springs need our prayers right now.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) November 5, 2017
Wheaton replied, “The murdered victims were in a church. If prayers did anything, they’d still be alive, you worthless sack of sh–.” Online backlash was swift and forceful, prompting the actor to apologize in a subsequent tweet.
Hey, real and actual people of faith: I hear you. I apologise for insulting you, in my rage at Paul Ryan’s refusal to address gun violence.
— Wil Wheaton (@wilw) November 5, 2017
Another celebrity, Chelsea Handler, is also drawing criticism for quickly blaming Republicans for the shooting.
26 people were killed in the shooting, and at least 20 were injured.
