FUSE TV - Slayer to Fans: Ignore Westboro Baptist Church

Update (5/24): The church chose not to picket the event.

In this divisive, polarizing country, there are few things 99% of America can agree on. But if there's one statement we can all get behind, it's that the Westboro Baptist Church, the hate group-cum-pseudo-church that believes any death, natural disaster or terrorist act is retribution for gays existing on this planet, is morally repugnant, destructive and a general pain-in-the-ass to everyone else.

So like any other high-profile death, the "church" indicated that they'd be protesting the death of Slayer founding member Jeff Hanneman at Thursday's memorial service. Hanneman died earlier this month of an alcohol -related liver disease.

How to handle the lowest form of people? According to Slayer, who posted a message about the group on their Facebook page, just ignore them:

"MESSAGE TO FANS:

Want to really piss off the Westboro Baptist Church at Jeff's Memorial Celebration? Do exactly what Slayer members and family are going to do - totally ignore them. They don't exist. And then come inside and celebrate Jeff's life with us."

Wise idea. The metal community gathered at this month's Golden Gods Awards to remember the guitarist, while Megadeth, Slash, Fall Out Boy and others all paid tribute to the musician via Twitter.