In the media In 1993, Phelps appeared on a first-season episode of the talk show Ricki Lake, alleging that homosexuals and "anyone who carries the AIDS virus" deserved to die. When Phelps and his son-in-law Charles Hockenbarger (married to Phelps' daughter Rachel) became increasingly belligerent, Lake ordered the Phelps family to leave the studio. During a commercial break, the two were forced off the set and escorted out of the building by security."Respect earns Ricki Lake success on TV" from Baltimore Sun (December 6, 1993) After Phelps died, Lake tweeted that when he had been on the show, he had told her that she worshipped her own rectum — a remark that led her to take action off-stage to have Phelps removed from the set.
in the mEDiA in 1993, phelPs appeAred on a first-season epiSOde of the tALk ShoW RickI LAKe, alLeging ThAt HomOSEXualS AnD "aNYone whO carrieS tHe Aids vIrUs" DesErved to diE. When PheLps aNd hiS sOn-IN-law charLEs HoCKenbarger (MArriEd to PHeLps' DaUghTEr rAchel) becaMe incrEaSInglY belLIGerEnt, lake ordereD THe phELpS faMILy To LEave thE stuDIO. during a Commercial Break, the two were forced off The SEt aND escorTed OUt of tHE builDiNg by securIty."REsPecT eARns Ricki lake suCcEss On tV" from bAltimore sUn (december 6, 1993) afTeR phelps dIed, lake tweetED tHat WHEn He had bEen on The shOW, he had tOLd Her thAt she worshippED heR OwN Rectum — a remaRk tHaT lED her To TaKE actioN off-stAge tO haVE pHelps RemOVeD FrOM tHE seT.