Get ready to dive into the deep end of the scandal that shook the Evangelical church. It all started with a pool boy…
Back in 2019, reports surfaced that anti-LGBTQ activist (and then Liberty University president) Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife, Becki, were engaged in a seven-year illicit affair with their twentysomething pool boy, Giancarlo Granda.
There were rumors of nudes and blackmail, of Falwell recording his wife while was engaged in sex acts with Granda, and—not to mention—other pool boys and “personal trainers” coming forward with stories of their own.
It all became part of a media storm that lead to Falwell resigning from Liberty University, multiple lawsuits, and the end of the so-called Falwell dynasty.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Earlier this year, a Vanity Fair exposé from journalist Gabriel Sherman aired out all the dirty laundry, featuring quotes from the Falwells themselves, who claimed the whole evangelical thing was just an act. Shortly after publishing, it was announced that the article would be the basis of a scripted limited series—and we already know who should play who.
Related: Hello, pool boys! Our dream cast for the new Jerry Falwell Jr. sex scandal series
But first, there’s a new documentary headed to Hulu next month that tells Granda’s side of the story. It’s called God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty, and it comes from celebrated filmmaker Billy Corben (Cocaine Cowboys, The U).
“They have a public image, but, behind the scenes, they’re freaks,” says Granda of the Falwells.
Through eye-opening interviews and expert commentary, God Forbid takes us back to Granda’s first encounters with the couple, and then details how he was swept up in “a world he couldn’t imagine,” eventually crossing paths with Donald Trump and Michael Cohen, putting the former pool boy’s life in danger. “If they wanted to make me disappear, they could.”
Per the official synopsis, “Granda, former pool attendant at the Fontainebleau Hotel, shares the intimate details of his 7-year relationship with a charming older woman, Becki Falwell, and her husband, the Evangelical Trump stalwart Jerry Falwell Jr. [The film] outlines Granda’s entanglement with the Falwell’s seemingly perfect lives and the overarching influence this affair had on a presidential election.”
God Forbid arrives to Hulu on November 1. Watch the trailer below:
Related: 5 times anti-gay bigots were caught engaging in very pro-gay behavior behind closed doors
Donston
People’s sex lives aren’t our business. The issue here was going after students, as well as presenting yourself as evangelical and profiting off of anti-gay/anti-queer politics and organizations while indulging a lot of queer behaviors. Typical hypocrisy, power corrupting, some predatory-ness, internalized phobias, etc.
dbmcvey
I agree that it’s not our business unless the person has made it their business to judge other’s sex lives.
Donston
It’s actually Jerry and his wife’s fault that we know. If they hadn’t (probably primarily Jerry hadn’t) constantly gone after subordinates and students we’d have no idea. And yes, I am judging a man (who’s married nonetheless) who kept hitting on his students. And yes, I am judging someone who has pushed and profited off of “Christian values” and anti-gay politics but has been low-key indulging plenty of extramarital activity and queer behaviors. Taking those stances puts you in position to be judged when you don’t live by those stances.
Joshooeerr
It’s not just that they enjoyed a pretty murky sex life. It’s that they were dumb enough to record it all – tapes, photographs, documents, public engagements with the pool boy, etc – that left a trail of evidence that could be easily followed by the most hopeless investigator. And from Jim Bakker to Jerry Falwell, this is what most amazes me about these guys. They are phenomenally stupid. But they’re still able to scam people who are even more dense.
FreddieW
Jerry Falwell Jr’s bizarre sex life is everybody’s business. Evangelicals would do themselves a favor to learn all about it, since they’re manipulated regularly by such creeps.
When I was an evangelical, it would have mattered. But now that they have a favorite President known for banging a porn star, I guess they’ve crossed some threshold.
Diplomat
“queer” behaviors? Not even close.
Donston
Um, a couple male students have talked about him directly hitting on them. And based on the pool boys assessment he did things with Jerry as well as his wife.
Brian
He’s a closeted bisexual who uses his enormous wealth and influence to harm the lives of LGBT people.
Fahd
But is it worth getting a subscription to Hulu? So far, I’ve made it without that one. Decisons, decisions…
bachy
I love Hulu. If Netflix can be described as leaning “family,” I’d say Hulu leans “adult.”
Rambeaux
For all of the money that they spent on him and the length of his “service”, he must have been one dynamite hustler.
bachy
Let’s hope the doc elucidates exactly how dynamite he was! Not because I have any prurient interest, of course, but just to underline how angry we all should be.
Major
Jesus take the wheel while I am watching this movie!!!!
Satan… make popcorn.
fredk
the holier than thou they pretend to be, the more perverted they are.
Rambeaux
I suspect that he is your usual hustler.
“I am totally straight and only do chicks. (wink-wink).”
“Of course, it depends on how much money is involved”.
MrMichaelJ
If you don’t think there wasn’t more interaction b/w this guy & Jerry versus his wife you really need a clue or 4.
CNY1983
for having sex with her he deserves to take over the presidency of that dullard christian shithole they call a university. and ill bet you wont find even a normal size dick in the whole campus.