Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife, Becki, are finally opening up about that whole pool boy scandal that destroyed their sterling reputation among evangelicals, crushed their powerful influence in the Republican party, and led to Jerry’s resignation from Liberty University in August 2020.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, the Falwells now admit the whole evangelical power couple thing was an act and that they never lived by the values they purported to, as if that wasn’t already totally obvious to anyone who saw those photos of Jerry at a Miami circuit party or the footage of him partying on that yacht with his pants open.
“Because of my last name, people think I’m a religious person,” Jerry tells the magazine. “But I’m not.”
“We had to put on an act,” adds Becki.
Related: Liberty University students are breaking their silence about how creepy Jerry Falwell Jr. truly is
Jerry took over as president of Liberty University in 2007 after his father, Jerry Falwell Sr., who founded the conservative college, passed away. In the interview, he explains that all the hateful things he said during his tenure there was just him playing the part of a bigoted Christian figurehead and that he didn’t enjoy doing it.
“There was so much pressure on me to become somebody I wasn’t,” he admits. “I’d wake up each day saying, ‘How am I going to do this?'”
Somehow, the poor guy managed to find a way. We’re sure the multi-million dollar salary and invitations to the Trump White House helped some.
Meanwhile, Becki says that as her husband’s star rose among conservatives, she grew more lonely at home. That’s when she started noticing boys on campus were “giving me attention that I’d never gotten before”, which ultimately led to “the biggest regret I’ve ever had.”
She’s talking, of course, about her affair with poolboy Giancarlo Granda.
“I had someone I could talk to,” she explains. “It’s that dopamine rush. All of a sudden this young, handsome fella starts texting you and giving you attention and you’re like, wow, this is kind of nice.”
In the interview, Becki admits to recording her sexual encounters with Granda on her “big Canon camera.”
“A couple of times I put it on the dresser and Giancarlo agreed to it,” she says.
But over time, she started to feel guilty about the affair, so she told Jerry, who reluctantly allowed it to continue.
“Jerry would wake up every morning and worry that my affair would come out,” Becki says. “Both of us did. It’s just horrible to have that over you.”
We all know what happened after that. The story came out. Jerry resigned from his job at Liberty University. Then came the lawsuits. Not long after that, the couple quickly found themselves pariahs among their former peers.
Looking back, Jerry says the whole thing has caused him to hate the church, saying, “Nothing in history has done more to turn people away from Christianity than organized religion. The religious elite has got this idea that somehow their sins aren’t as bad as everyone else’s.”
“We’re together more than any couple you will ever meet in your life,” Becki adds. “He forgave me, and that’s what Jesus teaches, forgiveness.”
Related: Can we talk about all the gay culture happening on Jerry Falwell Jr.’s Instagram page?
Deek62
I wonder how many other rich and elite evangelical leaders are also fake, and are just “acting”. I can think of a few.
dougie
I would say more than a few; the estimate is “most.”
lather
Every ******* one of them.
Ken A.
All of them. The have a great scheme going. Psyche people up and they’ll give you money. Watch the show THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES. Though satire and a comedy, starring Adam Devine, John Goodman etc. It just about sums it up.
BASI
Hmmm…Paula White immediately entered my mind.
My2CentsWorth
You would do less wondering if you wondered about how many are faking it.
SteveRic
What about that sanctimonious family, also attached to a university, in Tidewater Virginia? They are another group of hucksters and scam artists
johncp56
The whole lot of tax dodging A-holes I would say
Mister P
Wow. A rare moment of honesty.
So basically half of our country are people voting and supporting BS policies that they don’t even believe.
If more people would be honest we wouldn’t be held back by restrictive polices against the LGBT community, abortion and many other pet projects that the right likes to use against progress.
I guess honesty is asking too much from republicans.
Heywood Jablowme
They were talking about this on “Morning Joe” today and they put a slightly different spin on it. They seemed to have read quite a bit more of the VF article (which I’ll read now, thanks for link).
Realizing he was “not a religious person” as he put it to the interviewer, Falwell Jr. simply decided to run with all the right-wing “culture war” crap as a moneymaking opportunity.
Mr. Stadnick
They tricked the “religious” bigots who seem to be the easiest people to trick.
Charlie in Charge
As a sincerely religious person (though not a Christian), I’m pretty enraged about this. They took millions of dollars spewing hate they ostensibly didn’t believe in and then when that community abandoned them they want to turn around and act like victims.
I do not see any mention of them donating their wealth to repairing the damage they did in the name of their false beliefs.
Dadams77
I could not agree more. Look in the New Testament about how the Pharisees did things for show and it seems like the Falwells are the spitting definition of modern day Pharisees.
sebastianreign
Think of the lives they ruined of LGBTQ+ kids because their parents sent them to that school and church. How many kids killed themselves because these evil criminal grifters spewing their anti-LGBT hate? These ghouls deserve nothing but the worst the world has to offer. It doesn’t get anymore evil then these two degenerates. ALL religions and their leaders are equally evil and ruin lives.
Matthewnow
As a devout Catholic (OK boo me now) they are truly evil. Previous responder asked why didn’t they return the money. HARDY HAR HAR HAR!!!
Jaquelope
And you never will. The only ‘god’ they worship is Mammon, and they have to have the filthy lucre that that worship often brings.
bachy
OK let me get this straight: the Falwells were not simply delusional religious people but a couple of soulless scam artists, in it for the money only, promoting and supporting a religion and a political ideology they didn’t agree with but which continues to destroy the foundations of American life.
And that’s supposed to make them understandable?
Sheva
I hate to have to be the one to tell you this, but almost all of the “hellfire and damnation” evangelicals are in it for the money. The louder they preach, the less they seem to actually believe. Organized religion had always been about money and power.
johncp56
Double Ditto tax the MF! the Hypocrocy is overwhelming
Jon in Canada
Those who are surprised by this are those who have not been paying attention.
BigJohnSF
I’m surprised that they are telling the truth.
GayEGO
Oh my! Jerry Fowlwell Jr. is a cheat which verifies there are a lot of pretentious religious ones, and Jerry got caught and says he isn’t religious. There are probably a lot of them out there!
Bosch
This confession is a half-truth, made to distract us from the homoerotic nature of the affair.
BASI
You are 100% on point!!
louievee
Come on, April Fools Day? Right!
Mack
While I didn’t think April Fools, I thought that tomorrow they’ll say that someone impersonated them and gave this false interview.
Fahd
There are scam artists, ex Nazis, and safe crackers who write books confessing all they´ve done wrong, and then they start working for the forces of good. I suppose they are getting ready to write a book or a new tv show that purports to promote the truth or whatever, but I see more lawsuits, legal fees, and legal judgements in their future.
Their children must be so proud. At least they have each other.
maddog
I think it is time for the IRS to do a deep dive on Jerry’s income tax filings.
Ginger Tom
Pass the sick bag!
fur_hunter
Falwell is nothing but a LYING, Scumbag, arrogant, F ucktard, Piece of S HIT! And those are my kind words for him. Now. Let’s see if they delete my post here for calling out Fallwell. I can’t tell you how many times my postings here have been deleted for calling out folks.
BASI
But it’s SOOOOO worth it! LOL
mcflyer54
The Falwell’s were fooling people who were willingly allowing themselves to be fooled. I’d really like to see a lot of the everyday “christians” admit to the same dishonesty as Falwell, Jr. I also wish Falwell would have also exposed his hate mongering father for the fraud he was also.
Kangol2
Falwell Jr., his wife and everyone who propped them up are absolutely revolting, putrescent hypocritical fraudsters and scammers who took advantage of millions of people in their religious cult world and helped install a treasonous fascist, Don the Con, in the White House.
If there ever were candidates for complete and utter social and political cancellation, Jerry Falwell Jr., his wife (or ex, whatever status she now holds), and all his enablers should be first in line! They are THE WORST!
Valleylaker
The damage that has been caused by such despicable characters like Falwell is incalculable. Now they are poised to make more millions on a book deal and film rights. Thanks for the honesty after you got caught but the fact remains that you have, and will continue to make plenty of money hand over fist and the rest of us will have to feel the scorn of those weak minds that you helped to turn against us with your special brand of Christian hatred. Sorry, you get no sympathy from me for the tardy mea culpa.
BASI
I agree with everything you said but I just cannot see where they’ve been honest. After 13 years, suddenly, after he has to go, they’ve both been faking it all along? That translates into we got sloppy, got caught, videos and pics don’t lie, so we have to come up with something. They’re incapable of being honest. No honest person could do what they did 13 years; by that I mean the whole extreme evangelical BS from a pulpit knowing they were living a lie the entire time. If they were honest, they could’ve said we made a mistake. They’ve done a lot damage on this earth but they’ll have to answer to God for the people- especially those in the LGBTQ+ community- who they “damned to hell” and destroyed their lives rather than showing love as God commands. That’s the absolutely, and only, heartbreaking part of this whole debacle. Sickening that people bought into this family. When will people open their eyes and stop following fallible humans?
Jaquelope
@Basi : in a very concise way, you have said what I’ve been thinking on reading this article. You also mentioned a few things I hadn’t considered, but I can see the truth to your words.
Very often, it happens that the children of strict, overly-pious ministers are the ones who are very often in trouble with the law. Falwell, Jr. might have lost his religion because of his father, but was Falwell so much of a saint that his son didn’t learn his grifting techniques from him? I don’t think the apple fell too far from the tree.
Franklin Graham may be the next one who is to fall, because his own father, not long after he started, admitted he was not preaching the Truth, and was basically doing it for money and “likes” (I believe his exact words were, when asked about it, “If I preached the truth, no one would follow me.”) Graham Jr. seems to be doing much the same.
andrewl
What vile hypocritical people with absolutely no personal morals or values these two are. Just shows you how corrupt and morally bankrupt the religious right is in the USA.
throwslikeagirl
Ya’ better believe these two are saying these things to cover their butts and reap some legal bennies. I’m sure they’re thinking of ways to get some bucks outta this, too. The book(s) will be best sellers. Talk shows, the inevitable movie…
nm4047
As has been documented time and time again, Not the first nor will he be the last. When a tax system enables anyone to set up a non taxable ‘religious’ foundation that has an endless line up of gullible donors the opportunists out there will take full advantage. Never going to happen but time the US govt looked into the true definition of what forms a religious organisation. All the evangelists take full advantage and equally take the lions share of all the ‘donations’ received to support a lifestyle of excess etc that they are preaching needs to be pulled in.
Jack
Now can we shut down Liberty University? I’ve interviewed at least 10 people with degrees from Liberty U and hate to stereotype…..but they are fake nice Jesus bots. Loved talking about my husband and watching them squirm. (yes, implicit bias….can’t help it)
loren_1955
The saying absolute power absolutely corrupts seems apropos in this situation…and sadly probably most of the ‘elites’. Thinking of the royal perverts as well.
banditboy
Think of how much damage and even deaths his fake religious conservatism did to thousands of LGBTQ people, and yet, he laughs it off as just an act. They should be in jail or let the community get their revenge by stoning them to death.
cuteguy
Religions are cults. Once your separate God from organized religions, you find peace
sexysaint08
Religion is the opioid of the masses. Be spiritual not religious.
SFHarry
This makes it even worse.
CNY1983
YICK! He’s a cuckold and shes a horny old cougar. I’m gonna throw up now.
fredk
so he’s a watcher and she’s an old cougar who films her paid-for sex. how smarmy.
BASI
I wonder how many students were involved
scotty
every poolboys dream? not the one i remember.
hotshot70
So he’s saying, “Just kidding!”. Yeah, right. And I’m Lady Gaga’s stunt double!
redzebra1
Not surprising. Mother Teresa was a closet atheist, which she admitted. Remember that?
Jim
For Evangelical preachers it’s all about the Benjamins.
woodroad34
Hmmmm, let’s see: Jim and Tammy Faye Baker (though mostly Jim Baker), Ted Haggard, Paul Barnes, Ernst Angsley (oh, c’mon now), Eddie Long, Paul Crouch, Lonnie Latham, etc…etc…etc. to believe in Mega Church evangelicalism is to believe in nothing but corruption
johncp56
Just start taxing those mega churches!! and see how holy they act
Sheva
Amen to that! Megachurches are the biggest, most blatant grift in the long con of organized religion. It baffles me that people actually believe megachurches (and all other “loud” forms of “worship”) are about anything other than money.
RTG
Let’s not stop at churches. There are uncounted opportunists who have jumped on the “let me pretend to be a strict Christian, or rabid Republican or fill in the blank in order to make money or have political power. Two names that jump out at me: Tucker Carlson who embodies the right wingnut mind set but who is otherwise a wet dish rag and Lady Graham who looks to an alpha figure (think John McCain) for protection. And on the female side: the Corpse Bride political commentator Ann Coulter.
jonasalden
A speck of respect for coming clean about THAT part, that it was a con required of him by the ignorant, cynical though he may be. THEY made it necessary to make a mockery “faith” (I couldn’t write it with a straight face, hence the quotation marks).