Joni Lamb Memorial Recap: Jonathan & Suzy NOT INVITED To Burial? Jentezen Franklin Backlash

The death of Christian media icon and Daystar Television Network founder Joni Lamb at the age of 65 has sent shockwaves through the evangelical community. While many are mourning her passing, her death has blown open a deep, painful rift within the Lamb family. Recent revelations surrounding her memorial have sparked massive controversy online, particularly regarding her son, Jonathan Lamb, his wife, Suzy, and high-profile pastor Jentezen Franklin.

Excluded from Saying Goodbye: Jonathan & Suzy Not Invited?

Following the announcement of Joni Lamb’s death, details emerged suggesting that the fractured relationship between Joni and her son Jonathan never healed before her passing.

The public caught a glimpse of the heartbreaking reality when podcaster Blaise Foret posted a message of condolence online. Suzy Lamb, Jonathan’s wife, replied directly to the post with a stunning revelation: the couple was completely left in the dark during Joni’s final moments.

“Thank you, we weren’t informed of anything,” Suzy wrote. “We were down the road, but weren’t given a call to say goodbye. We forgive them. Thank you for praying for Jonathan.”

Suzy later added that leadership at Daystar knew Joni was dying the evening prior but deliberately chose not to contact Jonathan. This apparent exclusion extended to the private burial and memorial proceedings, effectively shutting out her only son from paying his final respects—a move that has outraged many followers of the ministry.

The Roots of the Bitter Family Feud

To understand why Jonathan and Suzy were reportedly barred from the memorial, one must look at the explosive history of Daystar over the past few years.

The relationship turned toxic following the death of co-founder Marcus Lamb in 2021. Jonathan and Suzy publicly accused Daystar leadership and Joni Lamb of covering up severe child sexual abuse allegations involving their young daughter and another family member. They also openly opposed Joni’s subsequent remarriage to Doug Weiss.

In response, Joni Lamb and Daystar vehemently denied the allegations, claiming they were entirely fabricated. They asserted that Jonathan was running a “smear campaign” because he was passed over to succeed his father as CEO of the multi-million-dollar network. Jonathan was subsequently ousted from the ministry, creating a permanent divide.

Jentezen Franklin Caught in the Backlash

The family drama has spilled heavily onto the evangelical figures who stood by Joni Lamb and Daystar during the crisis. Renowned pastor Jentezen Franklin, a longtime associate of the Lamb family, has found himself at the center of intense online backlash.

Critics and viewers have slammed Franklin and other prominent ministers for taking sides and maintaining their alignment with Daystar leadership despite the serious nature of the family’s internal allegations. For many onlookers, the refusal to facilitate reconciliation between a dying mother and her son during the memorial serves as a stain on the spiritual leadership of the organization.

As the dust settles on Joni Lamb’s memorial, the future of Daystar remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the “Story Behind the Smile” of Christian television hides a deeply broken family, and the public fallout is far from over.