So this is fresh from Wayne Houchin's Facebook page:
WAYNE HOUCHIN SEVERELY BURNED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. A statement from Wayne: Monday while appearing on a TV show in the Dominican Republic, the TV host took a handful of Aqua De Florida, ignited it and intentionally dropped it on my head, setting me on fire. I was not aware he was going to do this. This was not a stunt or part of an act - this was a criminal attack. The fast actions of the rest of our Curiosidades team saved my life. The fire was put out and I was rushed to the emergency room. I have bad burns on my head, face, neck and right hand. I am in pain, but am recovering. I will update you on the situation when I can.Wish you the best.
I hate to jump to the superstitious loon bandwagon when talking about someones religion but when you set someone on fire in an attempt to cleanse them on TV loons and easy conclusion to draw.
ReplyDeleteThat's the third reference I've seen about religion (other than countless I'm-praying-for-yous [eyeroll]).
ReplyDeleteAm I missing some information or are people just conjecturing?
It's totally conjecture on my part, but in the various vodun-based religions practiced in the Caribbean Aqua de Florida or Florida Water is used in rituals to spiritually cleanse things. With his stigmata and heart stop effects it was a small mind jump to someone trying to cleanse him with flaming Florida Water.
ReplyDeleteIt's in spanish but the release put on Wayne's Facebook from the show where it happened states that the man in question was attempting a blessing, so it's looking a bit more like a ritual gone wrong than a strait up assault.
ReplyDeleteI don't quite know how to sign in to this, to leave a comment.
DeleteIt's Bodine Balasco, here.
I personally don't see how putting flaming liquid on anyone can be considered part of a blessing, particularly without that person's permission (even with a person's permission I think such an act constitutes assault.)
I am wondering why we don't know more about this incident.
> Have the so-called TV hosts been arrested?
> Is this a news item inside the Dominican Republic?
> Why haven't we heard more about this?
Until we know more about what really happened -- and what are the consequences to the people who did this -- all of our speculations will be shaded by our awful sense of horror at something like this happening to a fellow performer.
Every ounce of my compassion goes out to Wayne.
There are several theories floating around but the one I like is being a moron he wanted a flashy looking "blessing" to play it up for the cameras and fucked it all to hell.
DeleteI realize that when you are on fire your immediate reaction is to try to put it out with your hands. This does nothing more than spread the liquid and, with it, the flames. As a fire eater who has been on fire more than once, though, it's easy to see that if he'd have used his coat to pull up over his head, he could have extinguished the flames quickly and effectively and avoided any severe burns (hindsight being 20-20).
ReplyDeleteThis is the Dominican Republic - I doubt any charges will be levelled. This is the main reason why I don't travel outside of my own country...When you are in someone else's country, you play by their rules. If you present magic to a superstitious bunch, don't be surprised by their reactions.