Christopher Hitchens Dies: Writer Remembered On Twitter By Ricky Gervais, Stars

Following the death of legendary writer Christopher Hitchens late Thursday following a bout with cancer, his friends and admirers reacted to the loss on Twitter. Remembering their correspondence and paying tribute to Hitchens' ideas, friend and fellow atheist Ricky Gervais sent out the following tweets, amongst others:

@rickygervais
Ricky Gervais

RIP Christopher Hitchens The most honest and outspoken, bullshit-free thinker of our time. A brave man and a hero of mine.

December 16, 2011 9:49 am via Twitter for iPhone Reply Retweet Favorite

@rickygervais
Ricky Gervais

Just been reading through all my emails to and from Christopher H. (that's how he signed off) Had to stop as it was making me too sad.

December 16, 2011 10:02 am via Twitter for iPhone Reply Retweet Favorite

@rickygervais
Ricky Gervais

“@LeyNathan: just remember his legacy Ricky, growing legions of young rationalists and free-thinkers” Stronger than he could ever imagine

December 16, 2011 10:06 am via Twitter for iPhone Reply Retweet Favorite

As celebrities and friends of Hitchens begin to tweet our their memories, we will update this article with their statements.

@stephenfry
Stephen Fry

Goodbye, Christopher Hitchens. You were envied, feared, adored, reviled and loved. Never ignored. Never bested. A great and marvellous man

December 16, 2011 10:15 am via Twitter for Mac Reply Retweet Favorite

@RichardDawkins
Richard Dawkins

Christopher Hitchens, finest orator of our time, fellow horseman, valiant fighter against all tyrants including God http://t.co/v5b29QCv

December 16, 2011 8:43 am via web Reply Retweet Favorite

Comments

[Daniel Nixon]

09:02 AM on 12/24/2011

Good Riddance! Maybe Dawkins will go next!

[rwerdja]

12:48 AM on 12/28/2011

How very Christian of you

[PurpleTomato]

04:42 AM on 12/17/2011

My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.Rest in peace Christopher.

[firelord5000]

10:44 PM on 12/16/2011

An interesting guy that had lot of good ideas, and lot of bad ideas. RIP, wish cancer on no one.

[AgathaX]

10:03 PM on 12/16/2011

Not a big fan. He was too much the contrarian, and would double down rather than admit any error. I found him tedious on the topic of religion. Not that he was per se wrong about it, per se; it's just that disproving in a literal way the existance of an unseeable concept is not really very hard. I thought the critique of Mother Teresa contained truth. Ostensibly that was Hitchens forte: telling the truth. Yet I always found his truth a bit too smug and narrow for my taste.

I'm with him 100%, however, on how to make tea.

[BringBackDemocracy]

10:49 PM on 12/16/2011

I liked him a lot and he had his faults too. I liked the sum of the man but couldn't abide his Iraq stance or his smugness. Still, the world needs contrarians even more so when the media, the so-called watchdogs of power, are owned by corporations.

[jc budmo]

08:04 AM on 12/17/2011

f&f

[disaprove]

05:20 PM on 12/16/2011

RIP

[ChingaChe]

04:58 PM on 12/16/2011

I liked Richard Dawkins better when he was on Family Feud. Much cheerier!

[BringBackDemocracy]

10:46 PM on 12/16/2011

He loved to kiss the girls didn't he? I get it...even if no one else does.

[marred]

05:22 PM on 12/16/2011

Aren't you due back at the asylum soon?

[fearlessfaith]

05:36 PM on 12/16/2011

Truth is, we are not God. Truth is this is the exact reason why our society hates Christians. I am a Christian and I am starting to feel the same way. This not what Jesus would have done or said.

[Hellova Stoner]

06:15 PM on 12/16/2011

Perhaps you would prefer to read this story instead:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/16/dutch-catholic-church-abuse_n_1152999.html?ref=world

It is about the catholic church abusing children. Would love to hear your comments there.

[Squiriferous]

04:39 PM on 12/16/2011

The world is a measurably worse place now that one of its bravest thinkers is gone. RIP.

[Lenape105]

04:01 PM on 12/16/2011

I will miss Mr. Hitchens' observations.

[SuperMoncho]

02:42 PM on 12/16/2011

RIP Sir, A hero has passed

[rah138]

03:27 PM on 12/16/2011

Religion breeds close mindedness. I would think someone spiritual wouldn't condemn a fellow human being in death, no matter what their views. Seems awfully hateful and hypocritical to me.

[Ryan Webster]

03:36 PM on 12/16/2011

that's very harsh of you to say.

[sumercollection]

01:34 PM on 12/16/2011

I am truly sorry, to hear about Mr. Hichens death. I would like to offer my humble condolences to his family. This man was a world treasure, brilliant mind and a brave free thinker.In a nation like USA where half of the population is drowned in the ignorance of religion and super stition , he was a breath of fresh air and the light of wisdom. As an Iranian, I truly appreciated his political points of view and his views on democracy for the poeple of Iran and the Kurds.If I will see a free Iran, ( from the claws of the criminal Islamic regime) in my life time, I will use all my efforts to erect a monument, to honor Mr. Hichins. He is immortal for ideas he left behind. Henry Anavian, New York

[Squiriferous]

04:40 PM on 12/16/2011

Just make sure you spell his name correctly on the statue: Hitchens.

[AyeChart]

12:37 PM on 12/16/2011

Atheists are no more logical or rational than theists.  The only sensible people are the agnostics, who cheerfully admit "Danged if I know!"

[Someone Out There]

02:09 PM on 12/16/2011

You can know that it is impossible for the Christian god to exist as described in the Bible. You cannot know the ultimate nature of the universe.

[superbombastik]

03:10 PM on 12/16/2011

wrong and wrong. thanks for stopping by....dummie.

[Dave24]

05:04 PM on 12/16/2011

Yes, and we'll never fly or beat polio.

[Dabo415]

03:25 PM on 12/16/2011

How is it illogical or irrational not to believe in something for witch there's no compelling evidence? If you told me that I could fly, which is more rational and logical... "I don't know" or "I think you're wrong"?

[tmd777]

04:14 PM on 12/16/2011

I would say that "I don't know" would be "more" rational and logical because it shows fallacy and ignorance, which we all have. Unless you have absolute proof that the person is wrong, then it would be more rational and logical to show that proof and then respond, "I think you are wrong". Also, how is it illogical or irrational to believe in something for which there is some evidence and/or strong rationale for legitimate theories? And, why is it irrational or illogical to believe in something for which there is no compelling evidence against?

[Mr Ruthless]

04:15 PM on 12/16/2011

Agnostics are people that want to give up the faith but haven't looked into what that means.

[deven61]

12:21 PM on 12/16/2011

Sad day...similar (for me) when Molly Ivins passed...

[Squiriferous]

04:42 PM on 12/16/2011

Molly Ivins died too? She was a Huffpost buddy of mine in a previous incarnation (until that name got banned).

[Squiriferous]

05:40 PM on 12/16/2011

Wait a minute: Molly Ivins died in 2007, so who is posting as Miss Molly Ivins? An imposter?!

[craigjameskk]

12:10 PM on 12/16/2011

God tell us all in the BiBle whether you like it or not..... I WILL NOT BE MOCK.....

[florenzfan]

01:44 PM on 12/16/2011

Mock, as in FaKe?

[joestatler]

02:31 PM on 12/16/2011

My god is a patient, secure, loving entity that can take a joke. Also, you shouldn't type while riding an ATV.