Pat Robertson on Robin Williams' Suicide: Actor Dead Due to Belief in 'Heathen God'
Pat Robertson, host of "The 700 Club," said on Wednesday that he believed Robin Williams may still be alive if he had known God.
"You see these very popular people in the media who commit suicide like Robin Williams recently and you say, 'What is the deal with him? What happened?' You find people who are at the top of the game in music and they're strung out on drugs. What happened? What was their God?" Robertson said during the show.
Williams committed suicide at his home on August 11; he previously battled severe depression and spent time in rehab. His wife revealed days later that her husband was in the early stages of Parkinson's disease, which some believe may have contributed to the depression that ultimately cost him his life.
Robertson, a former Southern Baptist minister, explained that "the god of the heathen are idols, and everything that you seek in life can ruin you unless that something and somebody is God himself. He can fill your every need, and He won't disappoint you and you won't want to commit suicide after you have come to him."
Some have slammed the TV host for his comments about Williams' life, stating that suicide is the result of mental illness, not a lack of faith.
"@700club As a Christian who has battled depression/suicide, I find Pat's comments more than offensive. For shame," tweeted Blaine Stewart.
Robertson is known for sharing his views on anything and everything, often riling up the American public. His faith has never wavered, though, and he stands firm on his viewpoints. The former minister has written numerous books on a myriad of subjects, including miracles, financial responsibility, court decisions, and his own life.
The 63-year-old Williams left behind a family who received a lot of attention, both supportive and negative. In fact, Williams' daughter, Zelda Rae, deleted her Twitter account after being trolled by the public.