A heart-wrenching video of 66-year-old Gino Gentilin dancing at his 15-year-old grandson’s funeral has sparked widespread criticism online. The teen, Kevin, tragically lost his life in a road accident. In response to the backlash, Gentilin shared the deeply personal reason behind his decision to dance at the funeral.
“Dance saved me,” Gentilin explained to Corriere Del Veneto. “In my case, it was that dance that saved me. When I finished dancing in front of my grandson’s coffin, I clearly heard his voice in my head. He said to me: ‘Thank you, Grandpa.’ And suddenly I felt empty, as if a lot of that suffering that I carried inside me had come out.”
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Before performing, Gentilin sought permission from his son and daughter-in-law, who both graciously agreed. “It was my idea, but first I asked my son and Kevin’s mother if they were okay with it. The speaker started pumping out music: first 883, then Brothers and finally a remix of DJ Matrix. In those moments I felt Kevin’s presence among us, and I felt that he wanted me to dance with him, so that we could have fun together once again,” he added.
The video, which went viral, attracted criticism from many on social media. Addressing the controversy, Gentilin apologized, saying, “What I didn’t know was that they would film the scene with their cell phones and that the video would end up on social media and in the newspapers. I apologise if I have offended anyone’s sensibilities, but believe me: that dance, a declaration of love, saved me.”
Gentilin shared the close bond he had with his grandson, revealing that they would talk every night about Kevin’s “projects and passions.” He fondly recalled their time together: “Every occasion was good for asking me to go with him and his friends to the disco. And under the DJ console, more than grandfather and grandson we seemed like two accomplices who had a lot of fun dancing together.”
The tragic incident occurred while Kevin was riding his Vespa to school. He was struck by a car, and Gentilin recalled the painful moments after the accident. “I got there a few minutes after the accident, he was lying on the ground and I sat down next to him. We stayed like that for at least half an hour. He was already dead and I remember that, while I was caressing him, I kept wondering why we couldn’t switch bodies,” he said, his voice filled with grief.
