Joel Osteen says 'no way' his wife assaulted flight attendant
by Jenna Lyle
Posted: Saturday, August 9, 2008, 7:16 (BST)
The pastor of America's biggest mega-church, Joel Osteen, said in court on Friday that his wife did not assault a flight attendant over a spill on the seat of her plane.
Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown is suing Victoria Osteen for 10 per cent of her net worth over allegations that the mega-church pastor's wife shoved her against a bathroom door and elbowed her in the chest after becoming angry that a spill on her first-class seat had not been immediately cleaned up, according to Associated Press.
Joel Osteen testified to jurors for nearly two hours after being called to the witness stand by Brown's attorney, Reginald McKamie.
He said that the incident before the start of a flight to Vail, Colorado, in 2005 was "an unfortunate misunderstanding", according to the Associated Press.
"We would never disrespect authority or disrespect (Brown). There's no way in the world" Victoria Osteen assaulted Brown, Joel Osteen was quoted as saying by AP.
Joel Osteen frequently preaches on the "favour of God", his belief that Christians can expect good things from God whilst non-believers can only hope that they may happen.
It was a message McKamie picked up on in court.
"You feel that you're entitled to the favour of God ... to do things other people can't do," McKamie said.
"All of God's children are," Osteen said.
Ms Brown also claims that Ms Osteen had to be physically restrained after trying to enter the cockpit and was finally removed from the plane in an incident before the start of a 2005 flight to Vail, Colorado. Hardin says that Victoria Osteen left the plane voluntarily with her family, reports AP.
In addition to financial damages, Ms Brown is asking that Victoria Osteen apologise and pay for the costs of her counselling. She claims that she was injured by the hit to the chest and that the incident caused her to suffer from anxiety and haemorrhoids, according to the Associated Press. She also claims that her faith suffered as a result.
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Added: Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 12:31 (BST)
It's so distrubing to learn about evil schemes against the precious anointed of God in the media and also to be subjected to demeaning appearances before courts. But one thing I know is that "they shall surely gather together against "such vessels" .....but they shall fall for the chosen and anointed's sake..". Keep on building the body of Christ and help accelarate the pace of the anointing in your life and ministry...you are a role model, both of you.....Be strong in the Lord and let God refresh you....It is still a great journey ahead, so keep pressing, even though challenges of this sort may come...keep pressing...we are praying for you.
You will always be a target for being scandalized because of your achievement and your charisma....."Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm"....Some people are not scaared to play with fire and they also claim they know the Lord of love, grace and mercy. Lying will never enrich anyone, but if they do, they wealth will be in vain. God will fight for His anointed and preserve their dignity in Jesus' name, Amen.
Pastor Lupedius, Pretoria & South Africa
Added: Friday, August 15, 2008, 0:03 (BST)
ms brown,i belive over exaurates and is a money grubbing woman with no they both have to awnswer to God he is our judge
wendy, USA
Added: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 6:01 (BST)
Just a few questions. Why isn't this a workers compensation case? Surely staff in first class encounter such alleged conditions often.
Also, where are witnesses from other first class passengers? Plaintiff's supporting witnesses appear to be only other staff, and also the only ones who would have been able to foresee where a given passenger would be sitting.
These may be jurisdictional exceptions allowing the plaintiff to bring the case in this way, but if there are they should be explained to the public by the media.
Here's why:
It is hard to believe that such allegations against Mrs. Osteen would be true, but if they were, it is hard to explain why other airline personnel have not personally sued passengers? If they have been allowed to, when? Why? How? Please elaborate.
Filing civil suits against passengers is a very bad precedent for the airlines and their staff to set and makes the skies even less friendly for any of us.
Robert Campbell, Long Beach, California , USA (
Added: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 0:06 (BST)
This is the most ridicules thing I have ever heard it is obvious that all she wants is $$$$ 10% of Victoria's net worth Ridicules funny how people are trying to make fast and easy $$$$ this days. She said she lost her faith I don't think she had any faith to begin with the bible says to place your eyes on God not on human because we make mistakes it's obvious she had her faith in man and depression please who gets depress for something like that come on and anxiety and hemorrhoids also that Victoria was eying the cockpit that is the stupidest story ever. COME ON they are not GOD they are human. but the Olsten's are a Family of God and NO WEAPON AGAINST THEM SHOULD PROSPER
Myr, Los Angeles, CA
Added: Sunday, August 10, 2008, 20:42 (BST)
I really hate to hear that these kind of lawsuits are getting as far as the courtroom. The story is so ridiculous that judges should be reviewing them and throwing them out. I don't have any personal regards towards the Olsteens, except as brother and sisters in Christ. If Mrs. Olsteen had that kind of temper, I doubt they would have the Mega Church they do today.
eve, northern kentucky
Added: Sunday, August 10, 2008, 9:47 (BST)
10% of her net worth WELL that says it all. The flight attendant is looking for a quick bundle of $$$$$$$$. That is the most ridulous thing I have heard in such a long time. I can't even believe that the flight attendent even has the guts to claim all this stuff. Is this her first job in the world. She isn't cut out to work outside of the home. She could stuff envelopes at home that way she won't need to get counseling, hemmoriods fixed, faith fixed etc etc etc....... The excuses she used for having problems with her faith. Her faith should be in God not man. Get a life flight attendant. I know you are feeling pretty stupid about now, you even looked ridulous the way you were walking in being held by those other attendents. Now this is a frivalious law suit, waist of the court systems time.
a , tx
Added: Saturday, August 9, 2008, 14:30 (BST)
caused her to suffer from anxiety and haemorrhoids??? Wow this woman has really led a sheltered life. I've been married for 16 years and a born again Christian for almost 30 years. I am aware that sometimes women can have moments of aggression towards each other for crazy reasons in a mans point of view, but come on now, get real. even if it did happen the way it was claimed she was an employee of an airline, and sometimes you have to deal with "stuff" with the public. Christians arent perfect. Good thing she didn't punch her in the nose!
T, usa
