Throughout history, stories have circulated about famous individuals who mocked God and later met tragic or untimely deaths.
Some believe these incidents are acts of divine retribution, while others argue they are exaggerated tales designed to teach a moral lesson. But how much truth is there to these claims? Were these deaths truly linked to their controversial statements, or are they just sensationalized myths passed down over time? Here are some frequently cited examples:
ALSO READ: This restaurant has been cooking the same soup for 50 years and selling to people
1. Stephen Hawking (1942–2018)
Alleged Quote:
There is no God, no one created the universe, and no one directs our fate.
Hawking was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) at 21, a disease with an average life expectancy of 2–5 years. However, he lived for over 50 years after his diagnosis and passed away peacefully at 76 due to complications from ALS. There is no evidence to suggest divine punishment.
2. The Man Who Built the Titanic (J. Bruce Ismay or Thomas Andrews)
Alleged Quote: After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone, he said:
Not even God can sink it.
This quote is often attributed to various people involved with the Titanic, but there is no historical evidence that anyone officially said it. The Titanic sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg. Thomas Andrews, the ship’s architect, died in the disaster, while J. Bruce Ismay, the managing director of White Star Line, survived and died of a stroke in 1937 at the age of 74.
3. Tancredo Neves (1910–1985)
Alleged Quote: During the Presidential campaign, he said:
If I get 500,000 votes, not even God will remove me from the presidency.
He got sick a day before being made President, then he died. However, there is no credible source verifying that Neves made this statement. He won Brazil’s presidency through an electoral college vote, not a popular vote. He fell ill before taking office and died from complications following abdominal surgery. His death was due to medical issues, not divine intervention.
ALSO READ: 7 wonders of the world that you may have never heard of
4. Cazuza (1958–1990)
Alleged Quote: While smoking on stage, he blew out smoke and said,
God, that’s for you.
Reports calim that he died from lung cancer, however Cazuza, a Brazilian musician, died at the age of 32 due to complications from AIDS. There is no evidence linking his death to his alleged comment.
5. John Lennon (1940–1980)
Alleged Quote: Lennon said that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ.
Christianity will end, it will disappear. Jesus was OK, but his disciples were too simple. Today, we are more famous than Him.
Lennon made this controversial remark in 1966, leading to protests and backlash. However, his assassination in 1980 had no proven connection to this statement. He was shot by Mark David Chapman, a mentally disturbed fan, outside his New York apartment. His death was a targeted attack, not an act of divine punishment.
6. Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962)
Alleged Quote: When preacher Billy Graham told her God had sent him to speak to her, she replied,
I don’t need your Jesus.
Monroe died a week later from an overdose of barbiturates. While her death was ruled a probable suicide, there is no verified record of her making this statement or any evidence linking her death to blasphemy.
7. Bon Scott (1946–1980)
Alleged Quote: His song lyrics included,
Don’t stop me; I’m going down all the way, down the highway to hell.
The AC/DC frontman died from acute alcohol poisoning and choking on his own vomit after a night of heavy drinking. His death was due to substance abuse, not divine retribution.
8. Rio Carnival Parade (2023) and Brazilian Floods
Alleged Incident: People mocked God during the carnival, and a massive flood followed, killing many.
While Brazil did experience deadly floods in 2023, fewer than 50 people died, not the large-scale catastrophe that some narratives claim. Floods occur frequently in Brazil due to climate conditions, and no direct link exists between the carnival and the natural disaster.
9. Campinas Car Crash (2005)
Alleged Quote: A group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend and the girl’s mother prayed that God goes with her and her drunk friends and she replied,
Only if He travels in the trunk.
Hours later, she died in a crash, but the trunk remained intact. This is an urban legend and a widely circulated story in Christian folklore. There are no police records or credible news reports confirming this incident.
10. Christine Hewitt
Alleged Quote:
The Bible is the worst book ever written.
The Jamaican journalist and entertainer was murdered and burned in her vehicle in 2006. Her tragic death was a result of violence, and there is no evidence that it was connected to her alleged comments about the Bible.
It does make a good story to say that these people mocked God and died, but many of these stories have been exaggerated, fabricated, or misrepresented to support a narrative. In reality, the causes of death in these cases—disease, accidents, violence, or substance abuse—have logical and medically or historically documented explanations.
There is no verifiable evidence proving that these deaths were acts of divine punishment. Instead, they appear to be coincidental or manipulated stories aimed at reinforcing religious beliefs.
ALSO READ: 45 Famous Men You Didn’t Realize Were Over 6 Feet Tall