A 60-year-old man has been slammed for faking his own death and funeral to find out who would turn up and mourn him.
Baltazar Lemos from Curitiba, Parana, set up a fake funeral for his family and friends after announcing his tragic death on social media.
According to reports, he conducted funerals and organized hundreds of ceremonies celebrating other people’s lives.
Lemos has shared how he was saddened after conducting a funeral service with only two people in attendance.
So just like what Ross Geller faked his funeral to see who would attend in the popular sitcom Friends, Lemos also decided to hold a fake funeral to find out who would show up and mourn him.
The 60-year-old started by sharing a photo of himself on Facebook, saying “prayers and good vibes with everyone” but the background shows that he was at Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo.
Only a day dater, a social media post announced his passing: “At the beginning of this sad afternoon, Baltazar Lemos left us. More information coming soon.”
This left his friends and family shocked as they had no idea that he was ill.
His nephew reportedly rushed to the hospital to ask the staff about him but they had no record of him as he had never been admitted.
Shocked friends paid tribute to him and his life, with many commenting on the post to ask about the cause of death.
Details about the funeral was then posted on Facebook and loved ones soon gathered to pay their respects.
As soon as the ceremony started, family and friends heard Lemos voice from the speakers, detailing his six decades of life.
Mourners thought that Lemos recorded the speech before he died but doors suddenly flung open and he appeared in front of them.
Those in attendance were confused as tears continued to roll down their cheeks.
As he explained why he faked his death, mourners became furious and they accused him of cruelty.
In an interview with Brazilian outlet Otempo, Lemos said: “I had the idea five months ago. I wanted to make it look like I really died. People interpreted it in their own way. The truth is that I wanted to know who would come to my wake.
“I didn’t tell anyone, because I hoped it would work out. I had no intention of hurting, offending, or causing any harm to anyone. I truly apologize to these people.”
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