Nationwide — Carlton Funderburke, a local pastor at Church at the Well in Kansas City, Missouri has apologized nearly a week after calling his congregation “cheap, busted, and disgusted” for not buying him a luxury watch in a now-viral TikTok video.Funderburke posted a video on Facebook on August 16 to offer his “sincere apology,” saying that his remarks during the August 7 sermon were “inexcusable.”
“Though there is context behind the content of the clip, no context will suffice to explain the hurt and anguish caused by my words,” he said. “I’ve spoken to those I am accountable to and have received their correction and instruction. I have also privately apologized to our church [which] has extended their love and support to me.”
The footage taken from a now-deleted live-streamed sermon showed Funderburke criticizing churchgoers for not “honoring” him with a Movado watch that he said he had been asking for since last year.
“This is how I know you’re still poor, broke, busted and disgusted, because of how you’ve been honoring me. I’m not worth your McDonald’s money? I’m not worth your Red Lobster money? I ain’t worth your St. John Knits — y’all can’t afford no how. I ain’t worth y’all Louis Vuitton? I ain’t worth your Prada? I’m not worth your Gucci?” he can be heard saying in the video clip.
He then went on to call his congregation cheap for not buying him a Movado watch which he said can be bought even at a Sam’s Club store.
“And y’all know I asked for one last year. Here it is all the way in August and I still ain’t got it. Y’all ain’t said nothing. Let me kick down the door and talk to my cheap sons and daughters,” he said. “Y’all hear from your pastor and father, I’m over y’all. I’m over y’all cheap expressions.”
Meanwhile, in the apology video, he also said that his behavior during the sermon does not reflect his heart and that he deeply regrets it.
“I solicit your prayers and your forgiveness as we grow forward,” he said.