‘Dear Brian’ pastor stirs controversy saying women shouldn’t post sexy photos
Christian pastor Brian Sauvé is causing a stir among Twitter users after he urged women to not post certain types of photos on social media.
The preacher, who works at Refuge Church in Ogden, Utah, was accused of being misogynistic towards women on the platform, The Blaze reported.
His tweet read: “Dear Ladies, There is no reason whatsoever for you to post pictures of yourself in low cut shirts, bikinis, bra and underwear, or anything similar—ever.”
He continued, “Not to show your weight loss journey. Not to show your newborn baby. Not to document your birth story. -Your Brothers.”
Users ripped the outspoken father of five for his tweet, which has garnered over 15,000 retweets and over 4,000 likes since it was posted Monday.
One woman wrote, “Dear Brian, F–k off -The World,” kicking off a now-viral #DearBrian trend.
“I am a proud member of the congregation of the Holy Church of Mind Your Own Damn Business. You should try it sometime. — My Body, My Choice,” said MSNBC contributor Katie Phang.
Author John Pavlovitz replied, “Dear Brian, Pastors like you are why the Church is known for misogyny and the subjugation of women more than empathy and equity. You should try the sacred ministry of minding your own damn business.”
Another tweeted, “Brian: Ladies, stop wearing low cut shirts. Also Brian: heres a picture of my wife in a low cut shirt. Are you happy with your 2 minutes of fame Brian?”
“1. Don’t ever call us your brother again. 2. Women AND men can post whatever they would like. 3. I have never posted a picture in a bathing suit/coverup/bra, but that’s my choice. 4. I’m going to share a scandalous picture of my one piece bathing suit and cover up. 5. Grow up,” scribed one woman.
In a series of follow-up tweets, Sauvé defended and stood by his comment.
“Quite a few men and women who would likely identify as liberal feminists have recently taken quite the interest in my Twitter account,” he wrote. “Welcome! I’m glad you’re here.”
“Many of you likely use and promote the #MeToo movement — yet hundreds of you are sending me unsolicited sexual images and videos. Is that ok now? I thought your sexual ethic was all about consent? This seems like naked (pun intended) hypocrisy on your part,” he continued.
He added, “If a man were to send you unsolicited nude pictures or sexually explicit videos of himself, you would (rightly!) judge him as a sexually abusive pervert. But you can do it to me? How does the ethical math work out on that? Maybe your sexual ethics aren’t so ethical after all.”
Sauvé also told his Twitter critics that he doesn’t “hate you,” but we’re all “hypocrites, sinners, and moral vagabonds” and the “freedom from the crippling weight of your sin through Christ.”
“You will be in my prayers today. May God’s mercy fall on you as it has on me and my house,” he added.