Mourning the loss of a parent — as their youngest daughter — has to be heartbreaking enough. But 20 year old Bonnie Chapman had to do it in front of millions of devoted fans of her late mother, the acclaimed bounty hunter and TV crimefighter Beth Chapman, 51, who was remembered at a remarkable Denver-area memorial service on Saturday.
In one of the most touching and heart rending moments from the service, Bonnie gave a eulogy to the large crowd at the Aurora, Colorado house of worship — and to the millions of Beth Chapman fans believed to be watching a livestream of the event from all around the world.
“I want to thank everyone who's here,” she said. “I am so thankful she got to share her life and our family life with all of you. The world is not the same without my mother, it really isn't. My family has been so tough and I admire every single one of them. They've all been pulling together for my father who has been doing the hardest job.”
After a pregnant pause, Bonnie added: 'Beth Chapman will never be forgotten and that's something I can say with great confidence.”
“No one will ever be a bounty hunter in heels like she was,” she said, referring to her own heeled boots she was wearing to the podium. “No one will be as great a mother as she was.”
Bonnie’s heartfelt speech was greeted with resounding applause — and Bonnie’s many fans and supporters reached out to her over social media from far and wide to shower her with love, support and prayers.
@Bonniejoc Wonderful speech. Loss of a parent is tough but continue living without them is harder. Showing your parents love is being positive, stay positive. Much love.
joe / marlene perez (@nztyraider) July 13, 2019
i just watched beth chapman's daughter say her final speech about her and when i tell you i cried…..i balled cried!!! i can only feel the pain & sadness she's feeling????????â¤ï¸
JEREMY (@Keaukahi_) July 13, 2019
When Beth was placed in a medically induced coma at the end of June, Bonnie bravely documented on Instagram Stories her trip from Colorado to her mother's deathbed. Just two weeks prior, before her mother stood at death's door, she had told her social media followers she couldn't return to Hawaii because of "too much anxiety" and traffic. Then, after facing her fears and rushing to Hawaii, she had to confront Internet dopplegangers pretending to be her as well as cruel profiteers seeking to make a buck off Beth's good name with unauthorized T-shirts (Bonnie condemned them).
More recently, Bonnie was forced to confront terrifying reptilian dreams that her fans and followers clearly think are directly related to her fears from losing her beloved mother.
A week ago, Bonnie observed on Twitter that "I had a dream I was stuck in a pool with alligators, how was your sleep?"
I had a dream I was stuck in a pool with alligators, how was your sleep?
Bonnie Chapman (@Bonniejoc) July 6, 2019
Fending off these gators was just the later challenge for Bonnie, who's complained in the past that she suffers from a great deal of anxiety and stress. As Bonnie herself has noted, being the child of a cancer patient can be really difficult, and navigating family relationships during that time extremely hard. Still, Bonnie has responded with openness and questioning.
Her mother's death came just a short time after Bonnie bravely announced on Instagram her pansexuality, and said that her parents were very supportive of her.
"For the past seven years, I've kept kind of a big secret to myself. I'm pansexual, now I'm sure the term is familiar with some people," Chapman wrote. "It means to me I fall in love with personalities, rather than a gender."
Pansexuality is considered more inclusive than bisexuality, in that pansexual individuals can be attracted to cisgender, transgender, intersex and androgynous people.
Bonnie's parents assuaged her fears that she wouldn't be accepted. "I haven't told many people until now. I was so scared when I told my parents in November, but they welcomed me with open arms," Bonnie continued.
And she's thanking everyone else who helped support her too."I appreciate those who knew and kept it a secret, thank you for letting me take my time. I truly am so thankful to you all."
"If you are in anyway upset about this, please feel free to unfollow me," she concluded at the end of the post.
A lot of fans commented to let her know they were there for Bonnie. "You can fall in love with who you want to, no one has the right to judge you," one follower wrote.
"Girl, you turned into a beautiful young lady, watching you grow up on tv… Don't worry what others think!!! "GOD LOVES ALL"… I can see your mom and Leland in you, in which other than eye and hair color looks like your Dad… No worries young one spread your wings," commented another.
Bonnie, celebrated her blossoming sexuality and the support she received from fans in a new post. "To celebrate my first June out of the closet I decided to a simple pride look â¤ï¸ I appreciate the overwhelming support I get til this day, reminds me I have the best people in the world beside me."
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