With the death of Rick Warren's son Matthew by apparent suicide, a polarizing war of words, speculation and accusation between "The Purpose Driven Life" author's critics and supporters has muddied social media this weekend.

In Rick Warren's statement to his Saddleback congregation in Orange County, Calif., on Saturday, Pastor Warren said his 27-year-old son "struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, even suicidal thoughts."  He goes on to write, "No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now," Warren wrote. "He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them."

People on twitter started to stir up controversy questioning if Matthew was gay and if that is why he struggled so much because his family did not accept that.  Other tweets went beyond mere speculation, with users maliciously attacking the pastor, accusing him of even being involved with his son's death. Most of those were posted via anonymous Twitter accounts and extremely in poor taste.  

Media outlets on the right responded to the behavior, defending Warren and his family as well as supporters and Christians offering their support.  Fox News commentators on Megyn Kelly's panel had also condemned the Twitter users, calling their behavior "ridiculous" and "tasteless," and refusing to name the users by name.  

The Warren family is grieving now and this is not the time or place to have these discussions.  They just need prayers to get through this tragic situation.   

While there is name calling on both sides, little is actually known about the events surrounding Matthew Warren's death, and few details of his personal life have been made public thus far.  Police reports that Warren was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The time of his death was estimated to be 10 a.m. on Friday morning. The report makes no mention of a suicide note.
Everyone that knows the Warren family completely supports them and assures people that these comments against Matthew and the Warren family are baseless and classless and the Warren family needs prayers and personal space.