Joshua Feuerstein

Joshua Feuerstein (born January 7, 1981)[1] is an American evangelical internet personality. Feuerstein received media attention in 2015 for posting videos on social media wherein he discussed then-recent events such as same-sex marriage legislation in the United States and Starbucks' red holiday cups.[2][3][4]

Joshua Kane Feuerstein
Born (1981-01-07) January 7, 1981
Stanislaus County, California, U.S.
Spouse(s)Jessica Reynolds (m. 2014)
Children6

Personal life

Feuerstein was born on January 7, 1981 in Stanislaus County, California.[1] He married Jessica Reynolds in 2014, and the couple have six children. Feuerstein and his family reside in Fountain Hills, Arizona.[5][6]

Controversial videos

Bakery video

Feuerstein first received media attention in April 2015 after he posted a video where he denounced Cut the Cake, a bakery in Longwood, Florida.[7] In the video, Feuerstein stated that he had called the bakery on April 1, 2015 and asked them to make a cake with an anti-gay marriage message on it. After the owner refused Feuerstein posted the video and encouraged his followers to call the bakery themselves and show what he said was hypocrisy. This resulted in his followers attacking the bakery's Facebook page, including posting one-star reviews.[7] Feuerstein later removed the video and stated that he had done this as part of a social experiment on religious freedom.[8] Cut the Cake commented on his video, stating that his video had hurt their business and that they had received death threats over his actions.[9] The bakery held an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, through which they raised over $13,000.[10]

Second Amendment video

He received more media attention in July 2015 after uploading a video that some media outlets such as Salon and Logo TV implied that Feuerstein was encouraging followers to use violent actions against backers of anti-discrimination measures and legalized same-sex marriage.[11][12] In the video Feuerstein cited several media cases to back up claims were attacks on Christianity, such as claims that owners of the Hitching Post Wedding Chapel were going to face jail time and fines if they did not perform same-sex marriages. Towards the end of the video Feuerstein stated “They are coming after our First Amendment constitutional rights. Well, check this out. This is one pastor that will not bow. Why? Because my First Amendment right is guaranteed by my Second Amendment right.”[13] The Advocate heavily criticized Feuerstein, calling the video "disturbing".[14] Writers for The Advocate and HuffPost also pointed out that several of his claims were inaccurate.[13][14]

Planned Parenthood video

On July 29, 2015, Feuerstein also uploaded a video onto the video-sharing website Vimeo, in which he is shown saying, "I say, tonight, we punish Planned Parenthood. I think it’s time that abortion doctors should have to run and hide and be afraid for their life.” [sic] The original video was taken down on November 30, 2015, in the aftermath of the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting but it was saved and reposted onto YouTube by several others.[15]

Starbucks video

In November 2015 Feuerstein posted a video on Facebook criticizing Starbucks for removing Christmas-related symbols from its holiday cups in favor of a solid red design.[16] The video made national headlines and Feuerstein appeared on CNN that same month. In his appearance, he stated that his post was not just about the Starbucks cup, adding, “The silent majority is sick and tired of consistently being bullied to be quiet about our beliefs and trying to remove Christ out of Christmas."[17] He appeared alongside radio personality Pete Dominick, who heavily criticized Feuerstein and stated that his energy would have been better spent feeding the homeless, which he stated would accomplish Feuerstein's point "without all the hatred and bigotry and cynical self-promotion”.[3][18][19]

Debate with Greta Thunberg

On September 24, 2019, Feuerstein posted a challenge to young climate change activist Greta Thunberg via his Facebook page stating that he "...would like to formally offer $100,000 donation to a charity of your choice if you are willing to engage in an hour long televised debate with me!” Adding, “Who wants to see this?” The post was shared over two-thousand times, and drew both praise from his supporters and ridicule from his opponents with statements such as "You’re so incredibly brave and manly for picking on a 16-year old who is trying to save the planet...” and "I am profoundly unsurprised that you want to debate a child and not a scientist..." [20]

References
  1. "About Josh". Joshuafeuerstein.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  2. "Who is #MerryChristmasStarbucks ranter and Fountain Hills evangelist Joshua Feuerstein?". azcentral. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  3. Itkowitz, Colby (2015-11-10). "Who is Josh Feuerstein, the man behind the Starbucks red cup frenzy?". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  4. Ember, Sydney (2015-11-09). "Starbucks's Red Holiday Cups Inspire Outcry Online". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  5. Lengel, Kerry. "Who is #MerryChristmasStarbucks ranter and Fountain Hills evangelist Joshua Feuerstein?". azcentral. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  6. "Simply Red: The Con-Man Behind the Rightwing's Starbucks Cup Freak-Out". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  7. Sullivan, Erin (3 April 2015). "Former televangelist sics angry followers on local bakery to make a point about religious freedom". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  8. "Evangelist Could Face Felony Charges After Asking Baker to Make Anti-Gay Marriage Cake". Christian Post. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  9. Muniz, Sheli. "Central Fla. Baker receives death threats after refusing anti-gay request". Click Orlando. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  10. "Longwood bakery raises $13,000 after anti-gay-cake dispute". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  11. Kutner, Jenny (20 July 2015). "Former evangelical pastor proposes fighting LGBT rights with assault weapons". Salon. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  12. "Pastor Pulls Out Gun In Video Rant, Urges Listeners To Fight Against Gay Marriage". LOGO News. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  13. "Former Pastor Suggests Christians Should Fight Gay Rights With Guns". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  14. "Pastor Encourages Christians to Fight Same-Sex Marriage Ruling With Guns". The Advocate. 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  15. "Candidates Deny Their 'Baby Parts' Attacks on Planned Parenthood Helped Fuel Colorado Shooting". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  16. Moyer, Justin (9 November 2015). "Evangelical Christian Joshua Feuerstein explains his war on Starbucks red cups". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  17. Kirell, Andrew (9 November 2015). "'Starbucks Hates Jesus' Viral Video Star Gets Owned on CNN". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  18. "Watch a comedian's perfect response to a US evangelist's 'movement' against Starbucks". The Independent. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  19. Grainger, Lia. "'Starbucks hates Jesus' viral video star gets slammed on CNN". Yahoo Canada. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  20. Palma, Sky. "Christian preacher Josh Feuerstein offers Greta Thunberg $100K to 'debate' him: 'Who wants to see this?'". Retrieved 2019-09-26.
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