Amie Harwick‘s brother Chris has spoken out againstWendy Williams.
After Williamsappeared to make lightofAmie’s deathon-air earlier this week, Chris demanded a public apology from the talk show host, tellingFox Newson Wednesday that Williams’ comment and gesture about his sister’sruled homicidewas “extremely distasteful.”
“Domestic violence is something no one should be joking about,” he said in a statement. “This is a difficult time for my family and forWendy Williamsto make light of this tragedy is very upsetting to us and extremely distasteful.”
“My sister worked tirelessly for domestic violence victims and women’s rights,” he continued. “Wendy Williamsshould apologize publicly to my family for her comment.”
A rep for Williams did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Amie Harwick.Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
On Monday’s episode ofTheWendy WilliamsShow, Williams, 55, referenced the crime and then proclaimed to her audience, “Come on down!” — the signature phrase Carey uses as host ofThe Price Is Right.
Williams also tilted her head to the floor as though she was watching someone fall. The audience was seemingly stunned into an awkward silence, and Williams continued the show. Swift backlash ensued on social media, with many demanding that Williams apologize for the crack.
Williams has not publicly addressed the controversy, and it’s not the first time she has come under fire recently. Earlier this month, sheapologizedaftersparking outragefor telling gay men to “stop wearing [women’s] skirts and our heels.”
Paul Archuleta/Getty Images; Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Amie, a popular Hollywood sex and family therapist,died of blunt force injuriesto her head and torso, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner announced on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Medical Examiner also told PEOPLE there was “evidence of manual strangulation,” ruling her death a homicide. She was 38.
Hours after the assault on Saturday, police arrested Amie’s former boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, in Playa Del Rey. He was charged with murder, police said in a press release.
Before her death, Amie had previously beengranted two restraining ordersagainst Pursehouse.
Carey, 61,spoke outabout his ex’s death in a statement to PEOPLE on Monday, calling her a “positive force in the world” and saying he was “overcome with grief.”
He alsoshared a petition, “Justice 4 Amie,” seeking to update laws for victims of domestic violence.The petitionproposes that California lawmakers should prevent restraining orders from having an expiration date and require stalkers/abusers to take mandatory in-person, long term counseling.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
