Comedian Marc Lottering has responded to social media backlash over a video of him singing on stage during a church service over the weekend.
The clip was criticised by a Cape Town preacher – who has previously been convicted of hate speech against the LGBTQ community – on Facebook.
CAPE TOWN PREACHER CRITICISES MARC LOTTERING PERFORMANCE IN CHURCH
Over the weekend, Marc Lottering and his husband, Anwar McKay, posted pictures of their attendance at New Hope Church in Cape Town. The couple were attending a baptism of a friend’s child.
During the service, Marc and his brother, Tony, were called up on stage by the church’s pastor, who invited them to sing a song.
The clip caught the attention of fellow Cape Town preacher, Oscar Bougardt, who founded the Calvary H.O.P.E Ministries.
Bougardt posted on his Facebook page: “What a sad day for the church. A church leader whom I respected has invited an openly homosexual man to join him in singing in front of the congregation. Imagine the confusion this creates. Especially for the many children present in the church – having to see a man who is married to another man singing from the church’s pulpit and stage.
“What an embarrassment and an abomination. The church no longer preaches against the sinful lifestyle of homosexuality but instead appears to condone it. How can this pastor preach the Bible while blatantly ignoring what Scripture clearly says?
Bougardt continued posting on Facebook, condemning the church pastor for “openly welcoming” Marc Lottering onto the podium. While some called out the pastor over his “homophobic” views, others agreed with his stance.
MARC LOTTERING RESPONDS
Oscar Bougardt’s Facebook post quickly went viral, catching the attention of Marc Lottering himself.
The comedian and actor responded on his own account: “I am aware of the ‘hate gay Marc Lottering’ post doing the rounds. All because a Pastor dared to ask me to join him in song in church. I have been sent the links and am not opening or reading them, by choice.
He continued: “It’s not the first time, and it most certainly won’t be the last time to be on the receiving end of hate. Many of you have asked me today whether I am ok. Please know that I am. For all the hate that I receive, there is so much love out there, too. It is well with my soul”.
Hey Friends. I am aware of the “hate gay marc lottering” post doing the rounds today – all because a Pastor dared to…
Posted by Marc Lottering on Monday 20 April 2026
REPEAT HATE SPEECH OFFENDER
It’s not the first time Oscar Bougardt has made headlines over his anti-LGBTQ Facebook posts.
Before calling out Marc Lottering, the Cape Town preacher landed in hot water with the South African Human Rights Commission
The preacher has appeared before the Equality Court on multiple occasions over his anti-gay public statements.
One – in 2018 – included a post that read: “To hell with homosexuals … their lifestyle is an abomination to God, but Christians in South Africa are too scared to speak out against (it).
“If I were the president of my country, I would lock them in cages where they belong. They don’t even deserve a prison cell.”
As of 2023, Bougardt, a repeat offender, was given a five-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of hate speech. He has been gagged from making social media posts pertaining to sexual orientation.
