Sometimes we can get into a lot of rhetoric
and I like to drill down and deal with facts
and one of the things that you objected to
was that there was a Go Fund Me page set up, right?
Yes, before she even knew her home had--
And here it is, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
was ravaged with wildfires last night.
Hundreds of homes, cabins, and businesses lost.
Thousands of displaced residences
lost everything and are in shelters.
Melinda volunteers with the same disaster relief I do
and sadly her family lost everything in the fire.
All proceeds will go directly to her family.
Thank you, and God bless you all.
TN VOL, Tennessee Volunteer, strong.
And it clearly says she lost everything when didn't,
did not, that is a false statement.
(hums triumphant tune)
And you agree that it is a false statement.
Yeah, but that was--
I didn't ask you, that's a yes or no question.
Yes.
It's not a an essay question.
[Woman In Flower Shirt] Yes.
It's not an argument, that is a false statement.
You did not lose everything.
Correct, right.
But that's what it says.
Correct.
Okay, now so--
Look at that, she told the truth.
I gotta just commend her.
I'm really happy, sorry.
I wanna read you a statement
from the creator of Melinda's Go Fund Me page.
January 6th, 2018, I am a Facebook friend of Melinda.
I saw her post about evacuating from the fire,
and I am the one who started the Go Fund Me page
because at the time, I assumed that Melinda
had lost everything in the fire.
When Melinda found out she didn't lose anything,
we closed the account and I released the 620 dollars
in donations to her so she could recover
from the smoke damage the fire caused to her home
and share whatever was left over with other survivors.
Can I ask how that was verified.
That it was this woman.
Did y'all speak to that person?
Yes.
Okay.
Okay, good, because I was just, okay.
Okay, so I'm sorry.
We did speak to that woman.
I'm sorry.
Finally! Finally.
Well, listen, you keep saying
that you want me to apologize.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on, hold on.
You started this.
Ha!
You guys came out here and said blatantly,
Jesus take the wheel, oh my God, this is so crazy.
(audience laughs)
We need him now, you need him, you need him!
[Woman In Flower Shirt] I got Jesus.
Oh, no you don't.
You're making all of these allegations
that she has set up a phony Go Fund Me page under an alias.
We found the woman that set it up
and verified with her that she did set this up.
And I'm sorry for that.
And that she didn't know anything about it
and the minute she found out that hadn't lost everything
she contacted this woman and said, hey, stop, wait, whoa.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry for that.
Okay, and here are the interactions
between Melinda and this woman.
Melinda, miracle found, no damage!
News crews rode with us today.
They went in with us inside our place.
Fire stopped at the parking lot
and just inches from our motorcycle.
We will be passing donations along to those
that we know lost their homes, that includes the Go Fund Me.
So it's up to you how long you wanna run it.
We can't thank enough for all your help.
There is some smoke damage.
We will have to buy new furniture, but it's livable.
Not sure when we can return for good.
Then the friend who doesn't want her name disclosed,
that is wonderful news.
I guess we can can, I think it meant can, the Go Fund Me.
Take the money and do what you need to repair your home
or pass it on, it's up to you.
So happy for you, prayers.
Okay, and I apologize.
I've told you this since July, and now you believe me.
Well, because you attacked me before July.
[Woman In Flower Shirt] I didn't attack you.
You were the first person to attack me
because of the ACLU and you kicked me out
of the survivor group that was set up by you.
I didn't point you out.
So we could vent and feel safe.
You didn't point me out?
I posted an article, I didn't say Darleene.
My picture was on it!
Picture, face was on it.
[Woman In Flower Shirt] It's a public--
It doesn't matter, but--
Picture, picture, truth, truth.
You said this woman is a scammer and a con artist
that set up a phony Go Fund Me page.
I would like to hear what you have
to say about the fact that that's not true.
I apologized, I am sorry.
I'm not gonna apologize.
I'm not apologizing to you ever.
I'm not apologizing to you.