mtv vmas 2017 Archives

Midway through this year's MTV VMAs came an unexpectedly serious and sincere appearance by Susan Bro, mother of Heather Heyer, the counter-protestor slain in Charlottesville. Introducing Bro was the Rev. Robert Lee IV, who denounced his famous Confederate ancestor and endorsed anti-racism activism. Today, Lee announced he's leaving his position at Bethany United Church of Christ in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after facing backlash from the congregation for his outspokenness. "My presence at the church as a descendent of Robert E. Lee and an outspoken opponent of White Supremacy had already attracted attention, but with my appearance on MTV the media’s focus on my church reached an all time high," Lee IV wrote in a message published on the Auburn Seminary website. "A faction of church members were concerned about my speech and that I lifted up Black Lives Matter movement, the Women’s March, and Heather Heyer as examples of racial justice work." Lee offered his resignation ahead of a planned church vote, he said. "I want to stress that there were many in the congregation who supported my right to free speech, yet were uncomfortable with the attention the church was receiving," Lee added. "The church’s reaction was deeply hurtful to me." The Bethany United position was his first job since leaving seminary, Lee said. According to the New York Daily News, Lee just joined the church in February.

mtv vmas 2017

The Robert E. Lee Descendant Who Spoke at VMAs Has Left His Church Following Backlash From Congregation

The Game of Thrones Finale Crushed the VMAs

MTV Won’t Say How Milo Yiannopoulos Got Into the VMAs

Report: The Weeknd Just Didn’t Feel Like Performing at the VMAs

VMAs 2017: Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj Close Show With “Swish Swish”

Why Was Milo Yiannopoulos at the VMAs?

VMAs 2017: Heather Heyer’s Mother and Robert E. Lee Descendant Denounce Racism

VMAs 2017: Cardi B Shouts Out Colin Kaepernick

VMAs 2017: Watch Jared Leto’s Tribute to Chester Bennington

VMAs 2017: Watch Miley Cyrus Perform “Younger Now”

VMAs 2017: Fifth Harmony Diss Camila Cabello During “Down” Performance

VMAs 2017: Ed Sheeran and Lil Uzi Vert’s Performance of “XO Tour Llif3” Was Good, But Cardi B’s Reaction Was Better

VMAs 2017: Watch Lorde Perform “Homemade Dynamite”

Video: Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”

VMAs 2017: Watch Kendrick Lamar Perform “DNA.” and “HUMBLE.”

MTV Says “Despacito” Video Wasn’t Submitted to the VMAs

MTV VMA Nominees 2017: Kendrick Lamar, Katy Perry, The Weeknd and More

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Killer Mike Is Keynote Masterblaster for FIRE’s Launch as National Free Speech Defender

Lost on Boogie Mountain: How the Bee Gees’ Kid Brother, Andy Gibb, Hit the Peak of Pop Only to Die of a Coke-Broke Heart

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