Jerry Falwell Jr.’s former personal trainer has just filed a defamation lawsuit against the multinational media conglomerate Reuters over an article it published about him in 2019.
In August 2019, Reuters reported that Falwell gave 23-year-old Crosswhite a sprawling, multi-million dollar, 18-acre fitness facility that belonged to Liberty University plus an additional $650,000 for almost nothing in return.
Shortly after the story broke, a weird video of Falwell and Crosswhite began circulating online. It showed the personal trainer holding a camera out in front of him while shouting at the evangelical leader to “push it!” from behind as he huffed and puffed in response.
The video first appeared on Crosswhite’s Instagram page, but has since been deleted, although not before someone saved it and posted it to YouTube.
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Then came a picture of Crosswhite riding a horse bareback at Falwell’s ranch. The photo was posted to his very own Instagram page, where it still remains up. It includes the caption, “Bucket list check off-riding a horse bareback while it swims in the lake.”
All of this, in addition to the Reuters story, had many people speculating about the relationship between Crosswhite and Falwell, who, you may recall, was also at the center of a sex scandal involving his wife and their former pool boy at the time.
So is Jerry Falwell Jr. having sex with his personal trainer, too, or do you think this is more of a cuckold and/or group situation?
— Edward O’Dometer (@dometer_o) August 29, 2019
Now, Crosswhite is suing Reuters, claiming the report ruined his reputation, which was “untarnished” before the whole world learned about his connection to the Falwells, and caused him “scorn, ridicule, and public humiliation.”
According to the lawsuit, “Until Reuters published the false and defamatory statements at issue in this case, Ben enjoyed an untarnished reputation as a personal trainer and businessman.”
The lawsuit goes on to state that there was “nothing scandalous” about his relationship with the Falwells, and claims Reuters “deliberately or recklessly conveyed a false implication” that he was “another Falwell ‘pool boy.’”
Crosswhite is demanding Reuters fork over nearly $10 million in compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Chrisk
Sweety. Just like the other boy toy no one gives you all that just because. Now he wants millions more for people saying the obvious. Effing whore.
He does look good on that horse though.
JackT
Bucket list. Sure Jan. We know you already checked off “riding Jerry bareback.”
barryaksarben
Riding a horse in water is on his bucket list? wow. I grew up on a horse and did this at 7. But I guess if you are waiting for some rich guy to make your dreams come true instead of earning it yourself then I guess it is ok. I never got paid to screw someones wife while he watched and I am not saying he did but it does seem to be a pattern with Falwell Jr. Reminds me of the old story of asking someone if they would have sex with a stranger for 10 million dollars and when they say yes you lower the price and state well we know you are a whore and all we are doing now is haggling price
Fahd
Talk about a lawsuit going nowhere. Yes, he does look good on that horse though. People will infer what they will from the facts. Also, btw, Reuters isn’t the National Enquirer.
Catholicslutbox
His Instagram is disgusting. It’s just pictures of him and his kid. No one wants to see that. That’s not what Instagram is for.
Den
Poor deluded man, what exactly do you believe “Instagram is for”?
roiboihoutx
Oh crap! Oh yes ma’am, Pam! I love it! You about a funny ole crazy, silly, goofy mutha blanker! Ooh, I likes you! Yous is very funny, oh Lord God almighty….I’m in tears here…..ooooh, good grief! Ooooh, my tummy
fredk3
desperate jerry just can’t stop, can he?
cuteguy
Did anyone think that the top pic looked like a still from a p0rno?
Jack
So many Republican/Evangelical sex scandals, I can’t keep up. Unfortunately, Reuters will probably have to settle with this little puke. Virginia is for (many bisexual) lovers.
MikeGinMN
I’m sorry… but Falwell has a… like… for good looking young men. I would like to know what is Junior’s history of giving away money and property to women and… not so good looking young men?
First it was the ‘pool boy’, and now the ‘personal trainer’… has anyone checking on his ‘personal assistant’ or his ‘image consultant’ for any personal over the top ‘endowments’?…. I’m sorry I meant ‘gifts’.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
This lawsuit says more about him than Falwell and personally I hope it backfires big time. Kid, you have to know when enough is enough and stop throwing stones in the glass how that YOU put yourself in. You have the power to walk away when he first approached you but you (and us) know damn well why you chose to stay. The majority of the people who cheered you on when you first went public with this relationship are gay but are also of the WORKING CLASS gay men and women whom know we will never see that type of payday. And now you come back looking for more loot? As I said, I hope you lose.
BLAKENOW
ok Sister you have to be some right winged nutcase or a full on Russian Bot to bash the victim in this case.
You have no idea who cheered him on when this story . and like I am saying now you are an idiot for even posting that reply .
it smells of Matt Gaetz’s doing to post this… I hope you lose Sister, time to give James Charles a call.
Chrisk
BLAKENOW
Why just attack SBB when everyone here is of the same mind. Lol
This case reminds me of the porn star Jarec Wentworth black mailing Donald Burns. A Wealthy Republican. The guy gave him 500,000 and a 200,000 car. He later decided it wasn’t enough so blackmailed him again. He called the FBI on him though.
Man About Town
Hey Graham — does this “Crosswhite” person have a first name?
o.codone
Bucket list check off – wrapping that guys legs around my neck. It’s yoga I think.
AxelDC
These “Christians” are twisted AF.
RickyK
Uh, can you be my pool boy, Benjamin? Sure, our pool won’t be ready until late summer but I’ll find something for you to do until then!
Ryan99
Wonder what we’re missing?
The burden of proof against media is really damn high, and there doesn’t seem to be much here.
Jon in Canada
Agreed and let’s be honest, Reuters isn’t in the habit of publishing things without facts/evidence to back it up. They’re not Sun, Daily Mail or the Inquirer are they?
barryaksarben
trying to make a quick million bucks when all he really needs do is start a gay fan site with that tight bod
Jon in Canada
Clearly, someone’s never heard of discovery, but I’m sure Reuters has. This is going to be fun to watch as it plays out.
jeters
xmeet.fun – great project for adults who want to find a sexual partner!
Gary R
Tell Falwell Jr
Robothedestroyer
Hmmm I don’t know a whole lot about what’s going on, other than the odd headline here or there. I will say tho that if he is suing because he was mentioned and thus ruined his business I don’t really see the problem. Now if he is saying it ruined his business because he is now perceived as LGBTQ (which I’m not sure if that would really hurt a personal trainer too much… jussayin) then maybe it is a “… girl….” moment.
Cato
Oh honey, you don’t understand how discovery works in a lawsuit, do you? The other pool boy is opening himself and the Falwells up for a whole new level of hurt.
ashersea
I think it’s just his wife having “sex” with this guy. Jerry is the voyer.
Den
I would not be at all surprised if every single televangelist, “megachurch” pastor and prominent evangelical/fundamentalist had a closet full of lewd skeletons. Every last one of them. Christianity, more than pretty much any other faith, seems to breed sexual hypocrisy and hidden perversion (and perhaps more simple grifters as well).
rural queer socialist
IT IS SHOCKING to read so many who don’t want him to win a big judgement and have big money. AFTER ALL that is mostly what Queerty is about: queer culture’s WORSHIP OF UNEARNED PRIVILEGE, UNETHICAL SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, UNJUSTIFIED RECOGNITION, IMMORAL FINANCES, etc.
Kevan1
Rural queer communist.
Iona Lexiss
Ummm….hey kid……you enabled all of this on your own. Sue yourself. Not even the Whos are crying boo-hoo.