Tim Minchin is brutally attacked after mum’s death: ‘Making it public cheapens it’
A former top minister has been branded heartless after she criticized Australian singer-songwriter Tim Minchin for talking about his mother’s death during his concert.
The popular musician/comedian stunned the crowd at a show in Sydney last Friday night when he revealed his beloved mother Ros had been diagnosed with terminal blood cancer three years earlier.
He shared stories about his mother and performed several songs he had written about her before revealing at the end of the show that she had passed away a day earlier at the age of 74.
Hours after a grieving Minchin returned to the stage for his final show in Sydney, former senator Amanda Vanstone weighed in on the tragedy on Monday night, accusing Minchin of “cheapening” his mother’s death.
Australian entertainer Tim Minchin announced during a show last week that his mother Ros has lost her three-year battle with blood cancer
‘Losing a parent is hard. Regardless of age and expected anyway. But for me it is a personal sadness. Making it public seems to make it cheaper, make it marketable,” Vanstone tweeted.
The late-night tweet quickly sparked a barrage of outrage.
“Imagine disrespecting someone’s right to grieve in a way of their choosing. That’s cheap,’ someone shouted.
Another added: ‘Close your account you heartless crone – but you always have been. But you’ve never been cheap, with our money.’
A third wrote: ‘It brings together those who have lost their parents to share their grief. As someone who lost his mother to cancer at a young age, this sharing is helping me and many others get through it. You have the right to privacy. He has the right to share and not be labeled opportunistic.”
There was also support for Minchin.
‘Tim’s Sunday show was spectacular in every way. He shared his grief, which was inspiring for a man. Turn on your brain before you type next time. Tim, you are a real star and person. We support you all,” On wrote.
Another fan wrote, “What a horrible person you are, Amanda Vanstone, for that comment! Everyone responds differently to grief in times of grief! Tim Minchin clearly felt obliged to continue his concert due to ticket sales/audience. If you had an ounce of decency, you’d delete Post!’
Former minister Amanda Vanstone paid attention to the family tragedy of Tim Minchin on Monday
Amanda Vanstone (pictured) is a former Howard government minister and senator
Vanstone was federal senator for South Australia from 1984 to 2007 and held several ministerial portfolios in John Howard’s government. She is also a former Australian ambassador to Italy.
Minchin told his audience on Friday evening that he decided to go ahead with the show despite the family tragedy, ahead of an emotional performance at White Wine in the Sun.
He ended the show by asking the audience to join in with the final song of the night, Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, as the venue plunged into darkness.
Minchin has received rave reviews for his shows after deciding to continue his nationwide tour, sharing a glowing tribute on his Instagram on Monday night.
‘Tim Minchin’s show last night was absolutely beautiful. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen,” the review said.
Minchin now heads to Hobart, where the first two of his four shows have already sold out.
Tim Minchin has been inundated with rave reviews as he continues his national tour while mourning the loss of his mother