The Reverend Richard Coles says police are involved after he received hate mail following the death of his partner.
The ex-Strictly Come Dancing contestant, 57, announced this week that his civil partner, the Rev David Coles, who was also a priest, died after a long illness.
The broadcaster later received messages that his partner is “in hell”.
Police called this evening, sympathetic and professional, and my hateful correspondence is now evidence. Thank you @NorthantsPolice
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) December 20, 2019
Now Coles has told his Twitter followers: “Police called this evening, sympathetic and professional, and my hateful correspondence is now evidence.”
He added: “Also Northamptonshire Police lit a candle in memory of Rev David Coles at their carol service tonight. There appears to be evidence of something in my eye.”
Coles wrote that 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.”
Also @NorthantsPolice lit a candle in memory of @RevDavidColes at their carol service tonight. There appears to be evidence of something in my eye. pic.twitter.com/gyaVChAn99
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) December 20, 2019
“It’s like the Khmer Rouge suddenly popping up in a stream of condolence.”
He said: “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…’.”
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…”
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) December 19, 2019
The Saturday Live co-presenter said that the “horrible letters: they don’t touch me”.
“I am right now an expert in pain, the real kind, and these are paper darts among the incoming, and just leave me mildly curious about the state of mind of the writer.”
Along with the tweet, he posted a picture of a pot of green ink, a reference to the journalistic term “green ink brigade” about hate mail largely being sent into news organisations written in the coloured pen.
The horrible letters: they don’t touch me. I am right now an expert in pain, the real kind, and these are paper darts among the incoming, and just leave me mildly curious about the state of mind of the writer. pic.twitter.com/2VhMrleT3o
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) December 19, 2019
According to former Communards star Coles’ official website, he and David lived together in their vicarage, “which is gradually being destroyed by … dachshunds Daisy, Pongo, Audrey and Horatio”.
The couple met in 2007 after a sermon and Coles has spoken openly about their celibacy.
He previously told Christian Today: “Of course it has its challenges and sacrifices … We live in good standing with the teaching of the Church, but I wouldn’t wish that to imply that I saw that as a good and noble thing, because I don’t, but it is currently where we are.”