“I want [Brittany] to have the very best day she possibly can,” Dotson told Page Six, adding that the couple asked him on last week to no longer participate in their nuptials. “They asked me to be a guest, but I probably won’t. I’m too much of a distraction.”
Dotson also responded to the criticism over his anti-LGBTQ comments.
“I am neither Transphobic nor homophobic,” he told Page Six. “I as a Christian, love and respect, all human life, regardless of race, religion, nationality and sexuality, but as a Christian and a Pastor, I must stand firmly on the Bible and its teachings, as to how we should live before God. I know not all people are accepting of this belief or religious point of view, but I am.”
Dotson said he believes he is entitled to his Christian values “as an American,” adding that “although, I do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle, I love the homosexual.”
Dotson said he employs gay people and has “never discriminated against anyone because of their sexuality.”
“To be honest, many of my homosexual employees have been some of my greatest employees,” he added.
Dotson told the publication that he is “deeply saddened” that Taylor and Cartwright’s wedding has been “marred by those with an agenda.” He said he also feels he has been “bullied.”
As previously reported, the couple came under fire after their wedding officiate’s transphobic and homophobic remarks resurfaced all over social media less than a month before their upcoming wedding.
The couple announced in December 2018 that Dotson was set to marry them at The Kentucky Castle, in Versailles, Kentucky. Brittany first addressed backlash over the pair’s decision during a January appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen.
“I will say that I’m a huge supporter and always will be of the LGBTQ community, and no matter what, I would never try to ever make anybody feel uncomfortable,” Brittany explained at the time, according to Us Weekly. “I talked to him myself and he promised me that he was not that way, that he was not saying anything about the community whatsoever. I’ve known this man for years, and if it was anything that I felt otherwise, I would never choose somebody like that.”
According screenshots obtained by BuzzFeed, the pastor previously criticized a church for appointing a transgender deacon and condemned the Supreme Court for ruling to legalize gay marriage in June 2015.
However, the backlash came after the SURvers were celebrating at LA Pride earlier this month, which concerned fans. Meanwhile, Lisa Vanderpump released a statement, revealing that she reached out to both Jax and Brittany over the controversy.
“I’ve contacted Jax and Brittany who are extremely disappointed as to the depth and seriousness of these comments by the minister and are very shocked and feel that obviously major alterations will have to be made in their ceremonial plans,” the restaurant owner told Us Weekly. “They are dealing with this today. This attitude is totally not acceptable to them and changes are forthcoming.”
The soon-the-be married couple took to Twitter to address the controversial topic to their fans.
“We already took care of this so I would appreciate it if people would quit trying to spread rumors like we don’t care and aren’t supporters when you guys have no clue how we feel or the fact that we have already changed,” wrote Jax. “I’m focused on marrying the man I love. Nothing else.”
“You don't need to explain yourself sweetie, we have like 20 amazing gay men in our wedding some are even standing up in it,” wrote Jax. “We can't help that we can't control, just laugh at these fools.”
“He is a nice man, his views are just different then ours, we don't read Facebook and I certainty don't check messages he wrote years ago, so you're right, I guess I should of checked better. Lesson learned,” Jax tweeted.
Jax added that the twosome have several friends from the LGBTQ community coming to the wedding. “I pretty much invited every gay person I knew, except billy,” he wrote, referring to his Vanderpump Rules costar Billie Lee. “You can be mad at me all you want for that one I don’t care.”
As for Brittany, she tweeted: “Spread the love not the hate, I will say this again and again! We can only control our own words not the words of others so do your best to be kind and I will keep doing mine.”
She added: “I have a weeding to plan! Sending love and happiness to you all!!”
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