Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Rightwing Campground Owner Hit With Backlash For Using Little Boy's Drowning Death To Promote Her Business

Rightwing Campground Owner Hit With Backlash For Using Little Boy's Drowning Death To Promote Her Business
Fox News

A Wisconsin campground owner ignited intense backlash for the message she posted on Facebook after a 5-year-old child drowned on the property.

The now edited Facebook message, which announced the child's death and later moves on to advertise vacancies at the campground, was called insensitive self-promotion by several commenters on Facebook.


At the center of the controversy is Ann Retzlaff, the owner of Annie's Campground in Gresham, Wisconsin. After the child drowned on Friday night, Retzlaff took a moment to pen a lengthy post that included advertising her campground.

The edited version still began by stating the child was "in a better place."

"This post is intended for Lovers of Freedom, who believe in God, who are helpful to others and who are supportive of the Truth."
"Know that Little Man is in a much better place filled with the Loving Arms of our Lord, Jesus the Christ."
"May God's White Light Shine upon the Campground and the many loving families here to appreciate our Freedom that we must still fight to keep."
"BE the voice and Protector of those innocent ones who can not Protect and Defend themselves."

Then Retzlaff moved on to add an excuse for her earlier post.

"As I now have time to review some of these horrible, hateful, careless posts from miserable people, and probably from people who were not here, who did not witness anything surrounding the tragedy this weekend, who would not normally camp anyway, this added message is for you:"
"As we were going around and talking to our customers here over the weekend, many families wanted to be with their loved ones and hold them close, especially if they had children /grandchildren around the same age as Little Marshall."
"Facebook was the most expedient way for me to get the word out to those supportive people to know that we had openings during a very busy holiday weekend."

Retzlaff then claimed they were still trying to find the child's family when she made her original post letting people know she had vacancies.

"It is very unfortunate that the haters came at me and my business again and completely ignored the fact of the grieving people here while we actively searched for the parents and family members of the child."
"I know that regardless of what I post, you haters will pounce on it.:
"May God raise you above the level of grossly despicable."
"STAY OFF MY PAGE!"

She then added another plug for her business, including the phone number and website.

"We do have some availability: please stop in the office or call or book online."

Facebook took umbrage over her response to the child's drowning.

Ann Rhode-Sonnleitner/Facebook


Andy Gallow/Facebook


Chris Squire/Facebook


Miranda Steiner/Facebook

WFRV asked Retzlaff what she thought of the Facebook backlash.

You can see local news coverage here:

youtu.be

She claimed to have barely noticed.

"I have not had time to look at any of the social media posts so I'm not even sure what you are referencing."

When Retzlaff was shown the comments, she made herself the victim.

"From the hurtful hateful comments that continue to come my way after everything I post."
"I could post that it's blue skies and sunshine today and the haters would jump on my page and hate me and say hurtful things."

Retzlaff's dismissal likely stemmed from the repeated criticism she's received over the last year, as she's posted rightwing rhetoric and insisted on remaining open and ignore public health protocols throughout the pandemic.

Regardless of what has happened in the Facebook universe, the drowning is being investigated by the local Sheriff's Office.

More from Trending

Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Blasted For Announcing New Additions To The White House Lawn As Global Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump was criticized after announcing that two new flagpoles would be added to the North and South Lawns of the White House—not the greatest look amid heightened global unease as tensions between Israel and Iran ramp up.

According to the Associated Press, Trump watched as a crane installed the newest flagpole on the South Lawn, remarking, “It’s such a beautiful pole.” He later returned to the site to salute as the American flag was raised for the first time.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Donald Trump from CNN supercut
CNN

Trump Mocked For 'Two Weeks' Iran Deadline With Supercut Of All His 'Two Weeks' Promises

President Donald Trump has a history of promising to resolve problems within "two weeks," and a new viral supercut mocks him for all the times he's said as much—including right now with tensions in the Middle East higher than ever.

Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether to involve U.S. forces directly in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, citing what he called a “substantial chance” for renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Keep ReadingShow less
red flag with pole on seashore
Seoyeon Choi on Unsplash

People Break Down The 'Silent Red Flags' Folks Tend To Ignore In Relationships

A red flag has come to mean any warning sign in life, in addition to the literal red flags that are placed on beaches or industrial sites to warn people of danger.

People will respond to situations by saying, "That’s a red flag." But before that language evolved, they'd just call them "warning signs."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ted Cruz; Tucker Carlson
The Tucker Carlson Show

Tucker Carlson And Ted Cruz Get Into Shouting Match Over Iran In Bonkers Interview Clip

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz—a harsh Donald Trump critic-turned-MAGA minion—sat down with fired Fox News personality Tucker Carlson for the conservative influencer's self-produced online content,The Tucker Carlson Show, for the Tucker Carlson Network.

On Tuesday, Carlson shared a 1.5-minute clip revealing that things got contentious when the pair touched on the Trump administration's escalating tensions with Iran.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Barack Obama
Suzanne Plunkett-Pool/Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images

Resurfaced Trump Tweet Criticizing Obama Over Iran Comes Back To Bite Him

Amid tensions with Iran, President Donald Trump was criticized for hypocrisy after social media users resurfaced a 2013 tweet in which he accused former President Barack Obama of planning an attack on Iran because of his "inability to negotiate properly."

Trump has declined to clarify whether the U.S. is edging closer to launching strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following a warning from Iran’s supreme leader against any attack and a rejection of Trump’s demand for surrender.

Keep ReadingShow less