'Long Island Medium' sparks controversy with 'shameful' 9/11 anniversary special
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A preview for Theresa Caputo's upcoming 9/11 anniversary special has created a stir online.
On Thursday, TLC released a three minute video of "Long Isand Medium: In Memory of 9/11" which features Caputo, a renowned psychic medium, providing readings to the families of 9/11 victims. The special will premiere at 10 pm. EST on Sept. 9 on both TLC and Discovery+, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the infamous tragedy.
While many fans thought the idea for the special was thoughtful and heartwarming, others — who are seemingly more skeptical about the possible validity of Caputo's gifts— called the special a "mockery."
"What a con," one person wrote. "Utterly shameful."
"You're actually surprised that a person that takes advantage of gullible people for a living is trying to profit off a national disaster?," one Twitter user wrote, while another added, "This is low even for TLC."
"It really is a 3-2-1 countdown to see who's the first to exploit the 20th anniversary of 9/11," someone else wrote. "Absolutely disgusting to enable and endorse this grifter."
Others defended the special by pointing out that if it brings people closure and comfort, then it isn't exploitation.
"It's not exploitation when people are comforted... It's all about love and that's it, people," one Instagram user commented. "Nothing else! And if you listen carefully, you can hear and feel what your loved one is telling you from the next place."
Another person compared spirituality to other religions, urging others to show the same respect to all kinds of faiths.
"Everyone calling this exploitation is being ignorant...This is for spiritual people who find peace in their beliefs," they wrote. "You don't have to agree with it, you can call it fake, or a scam, or a con, but at the end of the day it's simply another belief. Just because you aren't spiritual, doesn't mean you need to find spirituality offensive — the same way you shouldn't find anyone's faith offensive. If this is what brings people comfort after a tragedy, so be it. Live and let live."
On Thursday, TLC released a statement outlining the intent of the special, noting that Caputo conducted readings near the Pentagon and the World Trade Center .
“Theresa Caputo visits the sites of the horrific attacks and meets with families of the departed to deliver messages of healing and heroism from the spirits of their loved ones,” the statement reads, adding that she will “use her gift to bring peace to those most personally impacted by the attacks by meeting with them in the shadow of the World Trade Center, steps from the Pentagon, and at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.”
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