Extremists target Coles over death of partner
BROADCASTER Rev Richard Coles has revealed he has been subjected to abuse following the death of his partner.
The ex-Strictly Come Dancing contestant said he had received cruel messages, including one saying his partner was “in hell” and that he “will follow”.
Coles announced on Tuesday that his civil partner, Rev David Coles, who was also a priest, had died after a long illness.
Two days later, he wrote there had been “99.99999% loveliness from people and then a small but lively correspondence from Christians who wish me to know that D is in hell and I will follow”.
He added: “A letter, courageously unsigned, begins: ‘Dear Mr Coles, I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am to hear of the death of your partner.’ It continues, ‘I have been praying for your pain for a long time now’.”
Coles later tweeted that the “horrible letters, they don’t touch me”. “I am right now an expert in pain, the real kind. These are paper darts... and just leave me mildly curious about the state of mind of the writer,” he added.
Dianne Buswell, Coles’ former Strictly partner, tweeted: “Disgusting, thinking of you x.”
Comedian Tim Minchin said: “So pathetic I can’t be bothered searching for the yawn emoji.”
According to former Communards star Coles’ website, he and David lived together in their vicarage, “which is gradually being destroyed by ... dachshunds Daisy, Pongo, Audrey and Horatio”.
The couple met after a sermon in 2007.