Disney's Tiffany Thornton Defends Marriage to Church Worship Leader Against Critics Saying It's Too Soon After First Husband's Death

By Rachel Howard, Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Disney star Tiffany Thornton has been fending off some flak from critics after marrying church worship leader Josiah Capaci.

She looked radiant in a strapless white dress as she tied the knot on Saturday with Capaci, worship pastor at Gospel Light Church and Teen Revolution in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

She was more than happy to share photos of her joyous day with her Instagram followers but some didn't take so well to the news, accusing her of moving on too soon after the death of first husband Christopher Carney.

Carney tragically passed away in a car crash in December 2015 after they had been married for just three years. He was survived by Thornton and their two little boys, Kenneth James, 5, and Bentley Cash, 3, who were among the guests at their mom's wedding to Josiah.

This. This is love. That all encompassing, enduring, accepting, near perfect love. The kind that trumps my need to snap back at people who have the audacity to comment on my Instagram about whether I loved my first husband or not. But let me take a moment to explain something to you. There is no timeline for grief or for when God moves in your life in undeniable ways. There are a lot of people who think it isn't good to be transparent on social media but I say forget that. I'm going to be open and honest because God wants me to. It's part of my testimony and it needs to be said. I was a mess yesterday during our wedding ceremony. So many emotions flooded my heart as I walked down those balcony steps to the arms of my gift from God. I thought of Chris watching us and knowing he would have loved the choice I made, for me and for the boys. I thought of Chris's amazing parents sitting front row and how much of a blessing they have been and will forever be in our lives. How happy they are for the boys and I and how much they already love Josiah. I am so completely humbled by the love I receive from this man. Jo came along EXACTLY when God knew I needed him. It wasn't my choice to fall in love so quickly after chris passed but I was growing so comfortable with being alone that it was becoming unhealthy. Looking back now I think God saw that if I went too long without love that it would become increasingly difficult for me to submit to the authority of a husband after being set in my own ways. When I say "Jo is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me" that in no way indicates that I didn't love my first husband with all that I had. How dare any one of you judge me and say that on a social platform. It doesn't make you any better of a person to cast judgment on others and sit in the seat of mockers. I will always love chris and jo knows that. And I will always love Jo. The beautiful thing about love is that it multiplies as new blessings come into your life. I don't have to share one bucket of love with the special people in my life. Each one has their own bucket. Get it? Isn't that amazing?? God's timing is not our own. And I praise Him for that. You should too.
A post shared by Tiffany Thornton (@tiffthornton) on Oct 8, 2017 at 6:49am PDT

But the Sonny With a Chance star Thornton wrote in a heartfelt message on Instagram that her union with Josiah was a 'gift from God' and that her first husband would approve of the choice she made for her and their children. Defending her second marriage, she said the 'near perfect love' she and Josiah felt for one another 'trumps my need to snap back at people who have the audacity to comment on my Instagram about whether I loved my first husband or not.' 'There is no timeline for grief or for when God moves in your life in undeniable ways,' she wrote. She continued her post saying she needed to be honest with her critics because she felt it's what God wanted her to do. 'I was a mess yesterday during our wedding ceremony. So many emotions flooded my heart as I walked down those balcony steps to the arms of my gift from God. I thought of Chris watching us and knowing he would have loved the choice I made, for me and for the boys.' >

Best day of my life 10/7/17 A post shared by Tiffany Thornton (@tiffthornton) on Oct 7, 2017 at 8:44pm PDT

She added that Chris' parents were even sitting in the front row as she and Josiah exchanged vows and explained that she hadn't planned to fall in love so quickly after Chris' passing, but she felt it was God taking care of her because He knew it would be difficult for her to submit to the authority of a husband if she went too long without one.

'Jo came along EXACTLY when God knew I needed him,' she said, adding, 'God's timing is not our own. And I praise Him for that. You should too.'

Thornton even received some kind words of encouragement for her big day from former Sonny With a Chance co-star Demi Lovato.

'Couldn't be happier for you T. Love you so much and so sorry I couldn't be there yesterday!!!' she wrote.