Why Megan Phelps-Roper Left the Westboro Baptist Church | Amanpour and Company

The Westboro Baptist Church is known for picketing military funerals and its celebration of death and tragedy, even the 9/11 attacks. Megan Phelps-Roper is the granddaughter of the church’s founder and was one of its staunchest members. But seven years ago, she broke away and now works to combat extremism. She sits down with Michel to talk about her journey and new memoir “Unfollow.”
Originally aired on November 7, 2019.
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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[@pamelamorrison4086]

The interviewer is just too emotional and combative Fails in her job to really connect with her guest.

[@tthom2459]

I couldn't disagree more. All I've seen til now is softball fluff interviews. It's about time someone addresses the reality of the evil terrorists that her family is and she used to be. For educated, seemingly intelligent adults to blame their "beliefs" as an excuse is reprehensible. There comes a time when you have to take responsibility for your own decisions in life. I am glad that she has finally done that . . . Now . . . she needs to spend the rest of her life making amends. And what a vivid reminder of how hateful and EVIL religion is.

[@andrewghali5274]

The interviewer at times spoke to her as if she was still part of the church. She is well aware of her past and doesn't need someone condemning her for it, let alone a woman who is supposed to conduct a professional interview without bias. It was annoying and I didn't bother watching it through to the end. Tthom2 She was born into that way of thinking. She believed in God the way you believe religion is evil.

[@babagalacticus]

@@tthom2459 when i 1st viewed this "interview" as it aired last nov, i was actually STUNNED at the lack of PROFESSIONALISM on display from martin who took every opportunity to jump up & down on ms. phelps-roper with 2 feet. i've heard martin numerous times on NPR & have never been particularly impressed with her 'skill set' per se but i found THIS simply execrable. injecting herself continually as being PERSONALLY horrified, mortified, clutching her pearls in mortification..this is NOT "professional journalism". when u have been indoctrinated from birth in a closed socio-political feedback loop that's ALL you know; "when you get them young, the possibilities are limitless". instead of lashing & whipping her, martin could have, SHOULD have, used that time to examine more thoughtfully & COMPASSIONATELY, the evolution of a mind/spirit from darkness to light. sister megan will carry this for the rest of her life as u can see from the look on her face, she doesn't need to be broken on the wheel by the likes of martin. that's not her place nor her FUNCTION in this setting. after this i can only look at martin askance & actually with a degree of disdain if not contempt, that she took a GOLDEN opportunity for a very scarred soul working towards redemption, & turned it into LEAD. ugh. NOT her fuqqin JOB nor her fuqqin PLACE. be a professional, be objective, neutral & concentrate on the REAL story which is not YOUR personal feelings of hurt or whatever but this rather extraordinary & encouraging metamorphosis in a woman who waged jihad within themselves & is WINNING. she's to be admired for putting herself out there & swallowing THIS shite whiie being dragged thru broken glass. took courage i must say.

[@mendingwall3823]

@@tthom2459 When you interview someone, you have to put your emotions to the side in order to get the story. You can hold someone accountable without being over emotional.

[@tthom2459]

@@andrewghali5274 I believe religion is evil out of open-minded experience. I was born and raised in it and as I became an adult . . I started using my brain to see how hypocritical it all was. I saw savvy political operatives realize that they had a bunch of sheep in the repub party. All they had to do was tell them they were gonna fight their major battles (abortion . . . etc) and they could get them to join the repub cult and do what they're told

[@Kintsugibun]

The interviewer was extremely unprofessional. I understand her being hurt from their protests but Megan is constantly trying to atone for her brainwashed mistakes. She is aware that an apology isn’t enough and is trying to spread awareness

[@tekkieman]

Exactly. She came across as a baby who was personally injured. Moreover, many of the questions she asked were basic and could be answered with a simple youtube search. It's incredible what constitutes as 'journalism' nowadays.

[@V.D.22]

Megan also has no fault of her past, as she was born and raised in a crazy family. She got out, which is an amazing feature

[@robertpirsig5011]

An apology is enough. This woman has shown more strength than any person in this comment section. Removing herself from her family situation is something most here would not be able to do.

[@DanielForrester]

Megan got more media savvy with her hate is all.

[@ClaudiaBoleyn]

I'm really not happy with the way this interviewer went about this. Megan is a victim of this situation and has dedicated her adult life to fixing something she didn't break. Megan is an inspiration, not someone who needs to be grilled.

[@hazelangus]

It was a challenging interview for sure, but something I've seen with Megan over the several interviews I've looked at - she understands. Megan fully understands the pain she caused to many people. She will have understood this interviewer's reaction. She was really struggling - the interviewer - to hold back her feelings and Megan accepts the distress caused by her family. She also doesn't expect people to give her brownie points for what she's doing, she's not doing it for that.

[@hazelangus]

I think Megan is an inspiration and she absolutely should be grilled. It can lead to greater understanding. The interviewer was having a hard time emotionally at first (understandably), but I could feel her softening as time went on. I actually thought she did really well.

[@virtualsnake1994]

Saying something like "to me you're a terrorist" seems wrong. She changed her ways. It feels like the interviewer has a lot of hate in her which is understandable but, to me, not condonable or advised. It's with tolarance and love that megan changed her way of thinking.

[@ianmarchenderson]

Well said!!!

[@reuben4yahshua837]

The interview should put her personal feelings and thoughts aside. This is not about her. Very unprofessional.

[@Joshua-dc1bs]

Yeshua wasn't a white man with long hair. Remove that idolatrous image.

[@tthom2459]

@@Joshua-dc1bs lol . . . in true Westboro Baptist form

[@kldehaas]

The interviewer is emotional and does not show much compassion. It takes away from the interview unfortunately. Megan is doing amazing work.

[@pamelamorrison4086]

Only narrow minds cannot let compassion through for this poor wee abused and indoctrinated lassie. who had the bravery to walk away from everything she knew and held dear.

[@robertpirsig5011]

Hello! Megan was born into it! She showed tremendous strength to break with her family to do what's right. This interviewer is so uneducated in what it took for her to do what she did.

[@francineleahy]

The interviewer is really rude. Nobody can help the situation they were born into. More understanding was needed here.

[@jakemorj5498]

Affirmative action hire

[@RunAwayFromBrown]

The interviewer needs to take several seats.

[@twardpgh07]

This interviewer is terrible. This woman is going on national television to spread a message of love and redemption, and the interviewer makes it about her past

[@JoeLuvsIris]

Interviewer was flat out bad.

[@LK_Ireland]

I agree with the folks before me this interviewer really muddy the waters and did not do a good job at all!

[@TRal55]

2:54 "I just need a minute to deal with my own feelings from having seen your family picketing at military hospitals..." Yes, the subject matter is very disturbing but it's a journalist's job to not bring up your personal emotions to your subject in the middle of the interview...

[@sleepdr1fter]

I know this is a year later, but exactly. It is the complete opposite of what a professional journalist should be doing. It is specifically their job to stay objective through both parts of a narrative to address the full scope of the argument. Bringing up personal emotions is literally the *first* No-No you learn when studying journalism.

[@justthatgirl-ct4jo]

I honestly feel like she was just reacting the way she THOUGHT her viewers would want her to react.

[@pjt-k3541]

Everything that church stands for is disgusting and I know that if hell exists, they will run it. However, all the kids from there have been deprived of a normal life and were brought up brainwashed. You can make a person think anything if you’ve consistently drilled it into their head since birth. She’s aware of her mistakes and she’s now advocating against her family and the person she used to be. I feel as if the interviewer was ignoring that.

[@regtaylor1163]

Sin is the root cause of all the misery and suffering in this world. If you tolerate it, it proliferates. Pedophiles flourish in an atmosphere of laissez faire liberalism. Drug dealers profit in the millions and billions by our concern for not hurting anyone. Evil is real. It won't go away on it's own, it isn't satisfied with giving an inch. A mile today, who knows tomorrow? That having been said, the abrasive tactics of these picket sign ministries, drive people away from the gospel of Christ's loving redemption, and call to turn away from wrong and evil and come to him for eternal life.

[@hanzohasashi4534]

The interviewer was too emotional and combative for the first half of the video, but she did better during the second half. Guess she calmed down a bit.

[@leach9622]

If you want a true and better interview watch Megan on the joe rogan podcast it’s 100% better than this interviewer

[@R369B]

Interviewer needs to get a grip.

[@terencehennegan1439]

The interviewer should be fired one could tell she was out to shame and the look on the interviewee spoke volumes.

[@justthatgirl-ct4jo]

What an incredibly unprofessional interview. Journalists are supposed to be unbiased. I wonder if this woman was even as offended as she made herself out to be or was just behaving the way she THOUGHT her audience would expect. This was awful. Megan was BORN into this. She was RAISED in this and SOMEHOW managed to break away. She was truly a victim here.

[@afonsords]

Ok, but why is this interviewer acting like a child? With all due respect, no one cares how you feel. You’re there to interview.

[@patricialockhart2135]

I think Megan is a remarkable woman. She was indoctrinated from a young age, it was her family. Yet she's thrown that off and now works to heal not to hate.

[@mowsey321]

Exactly, what people fail to realize is the incredible strength of her true character to overcome her indoctrination. Anyone who has not grown up in that situation is in no position to judge her. I hope that her path is one I would have the strength to take but have no way of knowing if I would have. She broke away from a family whom she loved, and in their way loved her and entered into a world that (understandably) held her in great contempt. The amount of courage that takes is hard to grasp

[@patricialockhart2135]

@@mowsey321 very well put.

[@DanielForrester]

Megan has become extremely media savvy with her hate. She is in the "im just asking questions" phase of her bigot life.

[@nodnarb3540]

Really hope she is able to reunite with her family one day....hope they wake up

[@nodnarb3540]

Justin Mullins nope, wake up from their twisted interpretation of their god.

[@PURPLE.REIGN.1999]

@Justin Mullins A lot of Christians hate gay people, they just don't advertise it on the street. They would say, oh this is wrong to do, but they still harbor negativity, ignorance and hate, they just don't do it in people's faces and they are actually a lot worse than Westboro, because they don't stand up for gay rights at all.

[@dayrinx33]

Yeah the interviewer was way too emotional. I don’t want to judge her too much, because honestly... I’d probably had handled it the same way. Megan looks so much like her mother. I’m sure she’s way better of a person now, and good for her.. but it’s not so easy forgotten what she used to do.

[@justthatgirl-ct4jo]

She was born into this. She was brainwashed. She was able to break away as an adult. This girl holds no responsibility and was purely a victim in the situation.

[@greenemachine2837]

The interviewer sure wants to bash her over the head with every feeling she has and make her feel guilty every time she speaks

[@milobravo3153]

Thanks to listening to many MPR's interviews before and after her change, I'm glad I was able to put myself in other people's shoes. Helps me to be able to see their take on things before I judge... and opens my mind to conversation and dialogue. Even with an extremist.

[@rosemaryalles6043]

The woman who interviewed Megan is exactly how "not to be". Particularly in the context of the grace of redemption. Embarrassingly unprofessional and combative. "I just need a minute to deal with my own feelings from having seen your family picketing at military hospitals" -- you are an interviewer, your feelings should not be a factor; be professional.

[@Tula.]

Haha definetly so dumb

[@jamiemarie4894]

Why should we be surprised that they aren’t racist? This interviewer needs to leave racism out the conversation when it’s not part of it.

[@burnedflowers141]

Yeah exactly 😂🤦‍♂️

[@tekkieman]

It shows how little she knows about the church or researched her subject. The Phelps pioneered civil rights in topeka.

[@RedRebel8]

That interviewer didn't read the full script.

[@BooJanJing]

Very defensive and judge mental interview. We have to understand she was BORN INTO THIS. It was something that was taught to her not something she decided by herself.

[@shookreeseeree4]

We hope somebody can hv an interview with David..a real hero to humanity..

[@cameronnewman7538]

This interviewer thought she had the "gotcha piece" of the century but failed to realize we've all already seen Megan speak on various other superior platforms (Rogan, TED, etc) and have already forgiven her. What a display of arrogance by the interviewer.

[@scottfurrow577]

Nice necklace, wonder where you got it

[@benpotaka5893]

Huge of this young lady for owning her mistakes

[@alexisanderson411]

What a strong and articulate woman

[@LoveNadia]

Megan looks like her mother Shirley here.

[@AntiMasonic93]

Yup, the same curly hair.

[@AntiMasonic93]

Joe Regan asked the same question about soilders funerals.

[@cranberry411]

Unknown why she's so emotional we're just not saying it.

[@AntiMasonic93]

Her family picketed the Grammys here in Los Angeles. I yelled at them and felt good about it.

[@JimmyRoche420]

It's hard for the reporter. But this girl has been given the message of hate and judgement since aged 5. So basically brainwashing. I'm a man of faith and I forgive Megan as god says he who is without sin cast the first stone. I think this girl is picking up the mess her family put her through. I just pray she forgives herself and lives her life because we are all guilty of doing stuff we shouldn't be doing. God bless you Megan 🙏

[@babagalacticus]

" I just pray she forgives herself..."; you're one of the ONLY ppl commenting who has the WISDOM & compassion to see that & say it. goodonya mate. that really is the essential matter. 🙏🏾

[@johnallenmacfarlandjr9440]

pride runs deep

[@sunnesunne4039]

This was an extremely problematic interview by a journalist who should of known better. It lacked nuance and favored hostile emotion over any meaningful attempt to listen , understand and engage ....badly done , badly badly done !!!

[@sleepdr1fter]

There really should have been a different interviewer. Someone without a personal issue to the church itself, because her attitudes and personal beliefs coming through in her questions almost makes the interview impossible to watch. It is the interviewer’s job to stay completely objective to communicate all sides of the argument. It’s just bad journalism on her part, coming from a journalist.

[@rocker1465]

She is so eloquent. Shirley phelps cant be all bad when she raised a child like megan

[@St._Jaden_P]

Look the love of God is what draws people to repentance. Not fear Therefore, we are not supposed to scare the hell out of people, we are supposed to love the hell out of people. Because going out there and displaying the sin that people commit more than how to overcome that sin will completely place the view of God as a judgmental man on a cloud who rains coal on peoples heads. Instead of showing that God is the eternal father who loves you so much, that he sent his son to die a painful death. And whoever God loves, the son loves also. The son could have called on heaven to save him and destroy the world, but instead he laid down his own life for the world because that's how much he loves you. And to this day, he still loves you that much. That's why he sent the holy spirit. Not only as a comforter, but so that he could remain with us everywhere we go in order to keep that loving relationship. If only we preach that more than "YOURE ALL GOING TO HELL", the kingdom of Jesus Christ will grow more and more and more. Of course you have to tell the truth. That If they die in sin, they WILL go to hell. BUT... BUT... that's when Christ breaks through the door, pulls out the keys of death and hell, and unlocks the chains of sin that bind you. That's what we need to do more of.

[@phillhiip6743]

I doubt that Michel Martin would care to engage in some sincere introspection regarding her interview style, but if on the off chance she would ever do that, I hope it was due to this interview that were it not for Meghan Phelps-Roper's poise and integrity, would have been a car crash.

[@privacy9175]

This family told the truth. If the people are upset with it take it up with God.The bible is God's word. What God said will be. Revenge Is All Mine.....God

[@cranberry411]

Wouldnt be a funny if megan Phelps husband was black or if she was a lesbian even better.

[@hymatwat9412]

Hi. How’s Mildred mr Roper

[@mkuti-childress3625]

Funny, but a huge insult to Me. Roper!

[@lucyhall5026]

i am shocked at the comments saying how unprofessional and emotional this interviewer is. i find her to be a compelling interviewer who really connects with megan. i've most certainly watched other interviews with megan where i feel the interviewer is being more inappropriate by pushign her to articulate something she doesn't want to say. i can't help but wonder if the impression that this interviewer is being too emotional/combative/angry has to do with the fact that she's a black woman.

[@MsAggie78]

No, it's because she's angry and combatative.

[@politereminder6284]

I agree. She is definitely asking provocative questions, but she isn't angry by a long stretch.

[@mowsey321]

I can only speak for myself but it has nothing to do with her being black and is completely because she lacks any understanding of what indoctrination or what Megan overcame to be who she is today. She was abused and brainwashed/indoctrinated, I cannot understand how she read her book and walked away with so little understanding

[@boundtoyou2642]

It's becoz she's black interviewing a white woman.

[@AntiMasonic93]

So, Megan was whipped for not following certain orders from her parents with respect to religion? Wow! She was psychically beaten into believing in God.

[@tthom2459]

still doesn't make her any less responsible for her own actions once she became an adult

[@Steve_1999]

I guarantee that this Westboro baptist church has caused or contributed to suicides.

[@assurdo8888]

I wonder if Phelps has always been a fear mongering psychopath or if he bacame. As a lawyer, when he was younger, he's been a key element for racial parity with his work. Maybe he ever been rabidly hateful BUT NOT with blacks (converted to christianity), sort of a self racist / world hating perversion, or if he was a nice guy and he got insane because of what today, in novilingua, we call mobbing and bullying, from his peers and others. I also wonder if he were so obsessed with the evil forces because he actually used to be cursed by some criminal wizards of the klan and/or by other esoteric racist types, and maybe also by satanic black bosses who didn't want blacks to become christians . . .

[@pechaa]

I love Michelle Martin. She is one of my favorite journalists. Well done.

[@mowsey321]

That interview was trash and lacked any kind of emotional intelligence.

[@Tula.]

The interview sucked

[@yashar6595]

The interviewer is just ignorant. You are talking to a woman RAISED in an abusive ideology. Most people realize what brainwashing is, when Megan was allowed to handle social media and actually talk to outsiders that questioned her faith and her family she began to realize and began to journey and discovery, she basically was deprogramming herself. The interviewer should have realized that, Megan has a lot of grace to keep her composure and she NEVER uses the whole I was raised in it so I get a pass, she has said herself she will spend the rest of her life trying to atone........

[@AH-ru8ei]

Wow way to blame a victim

[@laetitiacadieuxviau7558]

Both of them did a great job expressing themselves on subjects that are emotionnaly heavy.

[@princessdeshunaexoxo]

She looks just like her mom

[@keithanphilander3630]

Horrible interview.

[@geezerrodgers8799]

I admire her for talking & taking responsibility for her actions. God can forgive her, we should too

[@tthom2459]

speak for yourself

[@Kgfhff]

Thats not even a question! She was a victim of a cult

[@foreignwarren7361]

She's a hottie

[@chrismaloney2913]

I thought the old guy was hilarious

[@AW-rx1uk]

Typical news interviewer. 🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@boundtoyou2642]

I love the interviewer's energy Megan and her movement hurt a lot of ppl. Being a victim doesn't exempt her from the bad she's done.

[@johnsmith2726]

These people suffered as well as their generations before -abuse. Plain and simple! I hope she get’s divorced, marries a Jew and has at least 2 Homosexual children! They say they are preaching God’s word! It’s sad because they are in need of psychiatric help!

[@kodokoa]

I don't belive her

[@Steve_1999]

I see what they mean from the Torah (Original Hebrew scriptures) but they know what they did was wrong. All they wanted to do was show hatred, I'm sure G-d was saddened from those actions. That is NOT how you're supposed to treat others.

[@tthom2459]

Thank You Michel Martin. Finally a real interview with her that isn't a fluffed-up softball piece. I just don't have such fond "forgiving" feelings about her as many fellow commenters do. I think it boils down to the fact that she excuses the miserable hatred of her past and her current family because of their "beliefs". That's a cop-out. Hate is Hate. She is an intelligent woman and comes from an educated presumably intelligent cult family. They know right from wrong regardless of whatever bullshit they may "believe". I hear so many comments lauding what Megan is doing now. Maybe I'm not aware of some special thing she is doing . . . but . . . if it's just that she is finally acknowledging that she used to be wrong - and writing a money-making book about it . . . . I'm not sure I understand how that is so f**king noble. She needs to spend the rest of her life apologizing for her past and making amends in every way she can . . . including perhaps using the proceeds from her book to do so.

[@babagalacticus]

i don't know that anyone is calling her "noble"; the crux of many comments here is about michel martin's complete lack of professional ethics. as for atoning "the rest of her life" for acts committed as a child, methinks ye doth protest too much. do YOU plan on atoning ad infinitum for dirty deeds you commited in adulthood? or are you a saint? and remember now b4 u answer; even the "saints" weren't "saints". can that holier than thou sauteed horseshit & move on. sanctimonious contempt & scorn, moral posturing & virtue signally, usually looks crappy & ridiculous on most ppl.

[@Lucky-ei6yh]

@tthom2459, you are lucky, not superior, spoiled brat

[@toaster4693]

Very bad interviewer.

[@HwHw-s9e]

I know the peices fit I watched them topple over Reconsider whatis broken Space between us grows Testing our communication Light 2 flames Justaposed to set two lovers Souls in motion Disintegrating as it goes Testing our communication

[@HwHw-s9e]

Some say of compassion but some say of fear. ... Thats what I said but I say it better. Do you trust me ? I promise ill never let you fall

[@speedtriprr537]

This interviewer was terrible

[@DanielForrester]

Megan left the church but got much more media savvy about re-directing hate. Apparently she think one of the richest and most powerful womennin the world JKR needed Apologia and defense from Oh My the all Powerful trans movement (/s)