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|nationality = [[United States|American]]
|nationality = [[United States|American]]
|other_names =
|other_names =
|known_for = ''[[Paranormal State]]'', ''[[Kindred Spirits]]'', ''[[Psychic Kids]]''
|known_for = ''[[Paranormal State]]'', ''[[Kindred Spirits (TV series)|Kindred Spirits]]'', ''[[Psychic Kids]]''
|occupation = [[Mediumship|Medium]]
|occupation = [[Mediumship|Medium]]
}}
}}
{{Paranormal}}
{{Paranormal}}
'''Chip Coffey''' is an American self-proclaimed [[psychic]] from [[Elmira, New York|Elmira]], [[New York (state)|New York]], currently living in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref name="presskit">{{cite web|url=http://www.chipcoffey.com/presskit.html|title=Chip Coffey's Press Kit}}</ref> He appeared as a [[Mediumship|medium]] on various [[paranormal television]] programs, primarily ''[[Paranormal State]]'' and ''[[Psychic Kids]]''. On ''Psychic Kids'' he acts as a mentor towards children who claim to have psychic abilities, primarily seeing [[ghost]]s. Coffey's claims of being able to communicate with the dead have been subject to criticism by [[scientific skepticism|skeptics]]. Coffey will be joining ''[[Kindred Spirits (TV series)|Kindred Spirits]]'' as the third official castmember alongside Adam Berry and Amy Bruni for the fourth season.
'''Chip Coffey''' is an American self-proclaimed [[psychic]] from [[Elmira, New York|Elmira]], [[New York (state)|New York]], currently living in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].<ref name="presskit">{{cite web|url=http://www.chipcoffey.com/presskit.html|title=Chip Coffey's Press Kit}}</ref> He appeared as a [[Mediumship|medium]] on various [[paranormal television]] programs, primarily ''[[Paranormal State]]'' and ''[[Psychic Kids]]''. On ''Psychic Kids'' he acts as a mentor towards children who claim to have psychic abilities, primarily seeing [[ghost]]s. Coffey's claims of being able to communicate with the dead have been subject to criticism by [[scientific skepticism|skeptics]]. In 2019 it was announced that Coffey will be joining ''[[Kindred Spirits (TV series)|Kindred Spirits]]'' as the third official cast member alongside Adam Berry and Amy Bruni for the fourth season, set to air on [[Travel Channel]] in 2020.


==History==
==History==
According to Coffey, when he was a child, he would tell his parents when the phone was about to ring and who was calling; referring to his ability to read the past, present and future as a "God given talent"<ref name='AJ1'>{{cite web | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10696635DFD8ADE1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title = 'God-given talent' is channeled in mysterious ways | accessdate = 2012-12-13 | date = 25 Nov 2004 | work = Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> Coffey said that when he reached adulthood, he began to see full-body apparitions. He also defines what he feels is the difference between a ghost and a spirit is that "the latter has completed the journey between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Ghosts, on the other hand, are souls that, for whatever reason, have chosen to stick around. They may not know they're dead, or they may fear judgment on the other side."<ref name='WFP'>{{cite web | url = http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/rare-medium-93182394.html | title = Rare Medium Psychic Chip Coffey can communicate with the dead, but he has a degree of skepticism about paranormal activity | accessdate = 2012-12-13 | last = Vesely | first = Carolin | date = 8 May 2010 | work = [[Winnipeg Free Press]]}}</ref>
According to Coffey, when he was a child, he would tell his parents when the phone was about to ring and who was calling; referring to his ability to read the past, present and future as a "God given talent"<ref name='AJ1'>{{cite web | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AT&p_theme=at&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10696635DFD8ADE1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title = 'God-given talent' is channeled in mysterious ways | accessdate = 2012-12-13 | date = 25 Nov 2004 | work = Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> Coffey said that when he reached adulthood, he began to see full-body apparitions. He also defines what he feels is the difference between a ghost and a spirit is that "the latter has completed the journey between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Ghosts, on the other hand, are souls that, for whatever reason, have chosen to stick around. They may not know they're dead, or they may fear judgment on the other side."<ref name='WFP'>{{cite web | url = http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/rare-medium-93182394.html | title = Rare Medium Psychic Chip Coffey can communicate with the dead, but he has a degree of skepticism about paranormal activity | accessdate = 2012-12-13 | last = Vesely | first = Carolin | date = 8 May 2010 | work = [[Winnipeg Free Press]]}}</ref>

In 2019, it was announced that Coffey would be joining the main cast of ''[[Kindred Spirits (TV series)|Kindred Spirits]]'' for the fourth season. This comes after Coffey appeared in the ''Haunted Salem'' 2019 live special with both Berry and Bruni from ''Kindred Spirits''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paranormal Professionals Amy Bruni and Adam Berry - Along with Medium Chip Coffey - Kick Off New Year with Old Haunts in Fourth Season of Travel Channel's "Kindred Spirits" on January 3 At 9 P.M. ET/PT|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/12/05/paranormal-professionals-amy-bruni-and-adam-berry-along-with-medium-chip-coffey-kick-off-new-year-with-old-haunts-in-fourth-season-of-travel-channels-kindred-spirits-on-january-3-at-9-pm-et-pt-105011/20191205travel01/|work=[[The Futon Critic]]|date=December 5, 2019}}</ref>


==Criticism==
==Criticism==

Revision as of 23:12, 28 December 2019

Chip Coffey
Chip Coffey (on the right)
Born (1954-08-21) August 21, 1954 (age 70)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationMedium
Known forParanormal State, Kindred Spirits, Psychic Kids

Chip Coffey is an American self-proclaimed psychic from Elmira, New York, currently living in Atlanta, Georgia.[1] He appeared as a medium on various paranormal television programs, primarily Paranormal State and Psychic Kids. On Psychic Kids he acts as a mentor towards children who claim to have psychic abilities, primarily seeing ghosts. Coffey's claims of being able to communicate with the dead have been subject to criticism by skeptics. In 2019 it was announced that Coffey will be joining Kindred Spirits as the third official cast member alongside Adam Berry and Amy Bruni for the fourth season, set to air on Travel Channel in 2020.

History

According to Coffey, when he was a child, he would tell his parents when the phone was about to ring and who was calling; referring to his ability to read the past, present and future as a "God given talent"[2] Coffey said that when he reached adulthood, he began to see full-body apparitions. He also defines what he feels is the difference between a ghost and a spirit is that "the latter has completed the journey between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Ghosts, on the other hand, are souls that, for whatever reason, have chosen to stick around. They may not know they're dead, or they may fear judgment on the other side."[3]

In 2019, it was announced that Coffey would be joining the main cast of Kindred Spirits for the fourth season. This comes after Coffey appeared in the Haunted Salem 2019 live special with both Berry and Bruni from Kindred Spirits.[4]

Criticism

Coffey has been criticized by scientific skeptics. In 2009, the James Randi Education Foundation awarded Coffey a Pigasus Award "For the psychic who tricked the most people with the least effort".[5] According to skeptical investigator Joe Nickell, Coffey has been accused of hoaxing and "outright deception" involving the television series Paranormal State.[6]

In September 2014, members of the Bay Area Skeptics attended one of Coffey's seance sessions as part of what they termed a "sting operation" intended to reveal the falsity of his psychic claims.[7] According to Ohlone College professor Sheldon Helms, skeptics posing as fans planted stories of fictitious dead family members with Coffey's staff. According to organizer Susan Gerbic, "Coffey claimed to be clearly communicating with our nonexistent family members".[8][9] In March 2018, Gerbic published an article in Skeptical Inquirer summarizing a number of techniques which she says are used by psychics, such as Coffey, to achieve their effects.[10]

In October 2013, Coffey appeared on the KFXN-FM morning show The Power Trip. Host Cory Cove confronted Coffey with skepticism regarding his alleged psychic powers. Coffey reportedly "stormed out of the studio".[11]

References

  1. ^ "Chip Coffey's Press Kit".
  2. ^ "'God-given talent' is channeled in mysterious ways". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 25, 2004. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  3. ^ Vesely, Carolin (May 8, 2010). "Rare Medium Psychic Chip Coffey can communicate with the dead, but he has a degree of skepticism about paranormal activity". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
  4. ^ "Paranormal Professionals Amy Bruni and Adam Berry - Along with Medium Chip Coffey - Kick Off New Year with Old Haunts in Fourth Season of Travel Channel's "Kindred Spirits" on January 3 At 9 P.M. ET/PT". The Futon Critic. December 5, 2019.
  5. ^ JREF. "The 2009 Pigasus Awards". James Randi Educational Foundation. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  6. ^ Nickell, Joe (July 3, 2012). The Science of Ghosts: Searching for Spirits of the Dead. Prometheus Books. pp. 264–. ISBN 978-1-61614-586-6.
  7. ^ Javier Leiva (July 2, 2019). "The Psychic Grief Vampires" (Podcast). Pretend Radio. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  8. ^ Gerbic, Susan (February 5, 2015). "Operation Bumblebee". Skeptical Inquirer.
  9. ^ Walther, Mitchell (October 30, 2014). "Ohlone professor 'stings' TV psychic" (PDF). Ohlone College Monitor.
  10. ^ Gerbic, Susan. "Ten Tricks of the Psychics I Bet You Didn't Know". CSI. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  11. ^ "Cory Cove got into it with a Psychic this morning..." KFAM-FM 100.3 Minneapolis-St. Paul. iHeart Radio. Retrieved March 6, 2017.