As I’m sure many of you have heard by now, self-proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne has died at the age of 77. Now while we are very critical and harsh on psychics and other paranormal frauds here at The Occult Section, we are never happy to hear that someone has died. That being said, I think the world can stand to lose a few of these people who prey on the grieving in order to make a quick buck. Sylvia Browne was proven wrong many times in her predictions, most notably claiming that Cleveland kidnapping victim Amanda Berry was dead, going so far asto tell her mother that she was no longer alive. Berry, of course, was found alive. Browne also failed to predict her own death, something less famous psychics have done before. Parlor tricks are one thing, but trying to convince grieving people that you know the whereabouts of a missing loved one, and taking money to do so, earns you no respect in my book.
“Well, when you’re right 52% of the time, you’re wrong 48% of the time.” – “Smooth” Jimmy Apollo
World famous psychic Sylvia Browne is dead at the age of 77, according to her website.
Browne, who made appearances on programs like “Larry King Live” and “Unsolved Mysteries,” died Wednesday morning in San Jose, California, the site reported.
Her son, Chris, confirmed her death to TMZ, saying she passed away while surrounded by family and friends.
For more than 17 years, Browne, who grew up in Kansas City, Mo., charmed TV viewers with her claimed spiritual psychic ability self-realized at the age of 3, according to her website.
“For many years she shared her gift with friends and family, gaining a reputation for accuracy with her trademark down-to-earth approach and sense of humor and became very well-known for helping people even before moving to California in 1964,” according to her site.
She went on to author dozens of books and publications, some including topics of the afterlife for both humans and pets, dreams, healing, end of the world predictions and prophecies, and “Angels, Guides and Ghosts.”
Browne made headlines after falsely claiming in 2004 that one of the Cleveland kidnapping victims, Amanda Berry, was dead.
“She’s not alive, honey,” Browne told mom Louwanna Miller on “The Montel Williams Show.”
Miller died two years later and would never know that Berry was in fact alive, further angering some of Browne’s critics and skeptics.
Montel Williams was one to publicly express sympathy over Browne’s death while calling her “a beacon that shined for so many.”
“I, like so many of you, lost a friend today. But, as has been for the last twenty years, she’ll always remain a part of me. My thoughts and prayers go out to Sylvia’s family in this time of loss,” said Williams.
Browne is survived by her husband, two sons and three grandchildren, according to her website.
Well at least the family name will live on, promising us more shysters, tricksters and charlatans.
