Patton Oswalt Defends Himself From Critics Saying He Got Engaged To Meredith Salenger Too Soon

Patton Oswalt and Meredith Salenger announced their engagement last week, over a year after Oswalt’s wife passed away.

PATTON OSLWAT NEWS: RESPONDS TO CRITICS OVER ENGAGEMENT

Oswalt’s wife Michelle McNamara passed away in her sleep in April 2016 due to an unknown heart condition, leaving Oswalt, 48, a widower and a single father of an 8-year-old daughter. Last week, the comedian announced his engagement to actress Salenger.

The pair seemed extremely happy, but some felt the engagement came too soon after McNamara’s death. Neither Oswalt nor Salenger were going to comment on the timing and the hate until blogger Erica Roman wrote an article defending the couple.

To the critics, she said: “You aren’t entitled to an opinion. You don’t get to comment on the choices of a widower while you sit happily next to your own living spouse,” Roman wrote. “You didn’t have to stand and watch your mundane morning turn into your absolute worst nightmare. You didn’t have to face the agony of despair and the only person who could possibly bring you comfort had been ripped from your life forever. You didn’t have to stand in the ashes of what was once your life, when the sun itself darkened and the very air you breathed felt toxic in your lungs. Go back to scrolling Facebook and keep your ignorance to yourself.” Read her entire post here.

Both Oswalt and Salenger then posted on social media linking to the page and thanking Roman. “This is so amazing. And SO well-written,” Oswalt said. “I expected some bitter grub worms to weigh in (anonymously, always always always) with their much-needed opinions when I announced my engagement last week. And I decided to ignore them. But yeah, I felt this rage. And Erica articulated it better than I could have ever hoped. So there you go. Thank you, Erica.”

Salenger tweeted out a photo of her own words on the matter. “Everyone has been so lovely to us… all of Patton’s family… ALL of Michelle’s siblings and friends and family… a few trolls have strong opinions,” she wrote. But I think for Patton, having met and found love after over a year of intense therapy and openly grieving and dealing with his pain… I am grateful to be the one who helps him climb out of the depths of grief and find some joy again. And most of all.. Alice is happy and feels love. I have waited 47 years to find true love. Creating our family unit while honoring the brilliant gift Michelle has given me will be my life’s goal and happiness. I am deeply in love with both Patton and Alice and very much looking forward to a beautiful happy life having adventures together.”