First Review: Louis Theroux: The Most Hated Family in America

Make no mistake.

You’ve never quite seen anything like this documentary, The Most Hated Family in America.

We’ve all read about those religious extremists who picket funerals with signs screaming ‘God Hates Fags’. They’re the same ones who accused Heath Ledger of being a ‘fag enabler’ in a number of loony radio interviews.

But actually watching these church members vomit their tirade on my television screen is a different thing altogether.

BBC broadcaster Louis Theroux is an investigative journalist who accesses bizarre subjects and wins amazing trust with his geeky reserve. He once asked Joseph Jackson if Michael had ever had a girlfriend or boyfriend without batting an eyelid. Jackson ended the interview immediately.

The Westboro Baptist Church is a small community church in Kansas (bite my lip, bite my lip), the members of which hate everyone. Gay men sit at the top of their list, but aside from the entire queer-community-and-anyone-they-have-ever-met, add “Jews, Muslims, Catholics, the Bush Administration and Swedes” to that list (Sweden once condemned an anti-gay politician, don’t you know).

Theroux meets all the key fag-haters, from the ageing, spiteful preacher Fred Phelps, head of his 71 member clan, to his angry, loud-mouth daughter (she who detests Ledger so much) and, sadly, down to grandchildren barely able to hold a picket sign, let alone know what it says. Over a period of time he works, rests and plays with these nutters, keeping his cool in the face of pure evil just to get the story. And what a story!

This is full of staggering moments, like the vitriol excreting out of the mouth of a mother who immediately beams sunshine to her kids when they walk in the room. Witness songs of praise in four-part-hatred-harmony. Marvel at the picketing of a funeral of an American soldier. And hear bigotry from the mouths of babes, who clearly have been brainwashed. It will send shivers down your spine.

You’ll also see passing drivers spew abuse right back at these picketing bigots, which as Theroux notes, suggests hate begets hate.

Should such vilification be on our television screens? Yes, in context. After all, we live in a world that allows them the freedom to peddle such propaganda. It’s important to know hatred is nullified at every step. I certainly can’t promise this will be entertaining, but at least you’ll know thine enemy.

Louis Theroux: The Most Hated Family in America airs 10:40pm Monday on Seven.