Melissa McCarthy apologises for supporting anti-abortion fundamentalists who called gay sex ‘immoral’

Melissa McCarthy has apologised after accidentally supporting a charity led by “Christian fundamentalists” who are anti-LGBT+ and anti-abortion.

The Emmy-winning actor teamed up with HBO Max for a “20 Days of Kindness” campaign in support of her new film, Superintelligence.

Among the 20 charities supported was Exodus Cry, a Christian organisation that states it is “committed to abolishing sex trafficking and breaking the cycle of commercial sexual exploitation”.

However the CEO of Exodus Cry, Benjamin Nolot, also has a reputation for speaking out against abortion and homosexuality.

According to Open Democracy, the group is run by “Christian fundamentalists” and Nolot has warned that the world is “in a dark hour of sexual turbulence”.

Such “sexual immorality”, he said, is “all sexual activity outside of the marriage covenant between one man and one woman”.

He also blamed “toxic sexuality” for abortion, teen pregnancy, the “implosion of the nuclear family”, as well as rape and sex trafficking.

In an Instagram video McCarthy posted on Thursday (12 November), she apologised for “blowing it”.

“It has come to our attention that our 20 Days of Kindness, which is a kindness hub that we started to shine a light on 20 great charities, had one in there that… there’s no other way to say it, we blew it,” she said.

“We have pulled it. We are so incredibly grateful for you ringing the bell and helping us be better. We’re sorry for our mistake. Oh boy, are we are sorry for it. Can’t believe that we missed it.”

HBO Max gave a statement to Entertainment Tonight, saying: “We were made aware of the issues surrounding Exodus Cry and have removed them from the list of partners associated.”

 

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