Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis

The journalist revisits Topeka, Kansas, in the United States to meet the Westboro Baptist Church, an organisation widely known for its anti‑LGBT stance. This visit follows his initial coverage of the group in a 2007 documentary that first recorded its activities.

Louis Theroux: America's Most Hated Family in Crisis is a one‑off documentary programme that follows Theroux as he returns to a controversial American community. The film is presented as a single, self‑contained episode, rather than a series, and it focuses on a group that has attracted worldwide attention for its extreme views. It aired as a single special, offering a concise look at the subject. In this installment Theroux travels back to Topeka, Kansas, to sit down with members of the Westboro Baptist Church. The church is infamous for its vehemently anti‑LGBT stance, and Theroux’s visit offers a fresh look at the congregation that he first filmed for a 2007 documentary. Theroux talks directly with members about their motives. The return trip allows Theroux to see how the group has evolved since his earlier exposure. While the setting remains the same small Kansas town, the focus is on the church’s ongoing activities and the way its members continue to express their beliefs publicly. He also notes how locals respond to the church's presence. Theroux’s revisit underscores the Westboro Baptist Church’s reputation as a notoriously homophobic organisation. By returning to the same community he covered years ago, the programme highlights the persistence of the church’s controversial stance and provides viewers with an updated perspective on a group that has long been at the centre of public debate. The new footage allows comparison with the earlier documentary.