Scandals involving infidelity often topple marriages, but Jerry and Becki decided to tough it out together. All About the Former Playboy Model Tied to Donald Trump's Indictment. [42] A group called the Red Letter Christians criticized Falwell for the pivotal role he played in "forging the alliance between white evangelicals and Donald J. Trump, who won 81 percent of their vote. Jerry Falwell first met Becki Tilley when he was 18 and she was 13. ", RELATED VIDEO: Jerry Falwell Jr. Claims Fatal Attraction Plot After Pool Boy Details Alleged Relationship with Couple. My dad and I were thick as thieves," Falwell Jr. told Vanity Fair in a recent interview. Scandals involving infidelity often topple marriages, but Jerry and Becki decided to tough it out together. Jerry will need Beckis support as he fights a lawsuit filed by Liberty University. Jerry lists lawyer and commercial real estate developer on his Instagram bio. Jerry Falwell Jr. resigned as Liberty president on Tuesday, in exchange for a severance package worth $10.5 million, two days after his acknowledgment of Becki's affair with Granda. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. [23] The task force was never formed. ", "There was so much pressure on me to become somebody I wasn't," recalled Falwell Jr., who is known for making controversial comments about Muslims, weapons and the LQBTQ community. Is Netflix's 'The Nurse' Based On A True Story? Sabrina is an editorial assistant for Womens Health. Country of birth: United States of America. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. [47], After Liberty University's spring break, without the knowledge of city officials,[50] Falwell reopened Liberty University on March 23 to students to physically return to the campus despite calls for the campus to stay closed to limit the spread of COVID-19. Jerry Falwell Jr. is married to Becki Tilley and lives on a farm in Bedford County, Virginia. He forgave me, and thats what Jesus teaches, forgiveness., Jerry talked to theExaminerabout forgiving his wife:Becki and I forgave each other because while her indiscretion may have been more obvious and apparent, I realized that there were important smaller things I needed to do better too.. All About 'God Forbid,' His Sex Scandal, Net Worth, Liberty University Exit, 26 Best HBO Original Documentaries To Stream Now, The 37 Best Hulu Documentaries You Can Stream Now. The group regularly endorsed presidential candidates based on those criteria, including Ronald Reagan. Where Is Jerry Falwell Jr. Now? He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia.He founded Lynchburg Christian Academy (now Liberty Christian Academy) in 1967, founded Liberty University in 1971, and co-founded the Moral Majority in 1979. I'm partly to blame. [32], Speaking of the 2015 San Bernardino attack, Falwell stated during the university's 2015 convocation that if "some of those people had got what I have in my back pocket right now," the attack would not have happened. Macel Pate Falwell, 82, of Lynchburg passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, October 15, after a long illness. [7][8], Under Falwell Jr., Liberty University came under scrutiny for its alleged authoritarian control over employees and students, nepotism toward Falwell family-owned businesses in the school's investments, and increasing influence of Falwell's wife Becki in school affairs. It then continues, saying that Granda "is now ready to share the story of his years on an only in America rollercoaster ride through the monied corridors of power and profound hypocrisy.. In the production, Giancarlo Granda, a former pool attendant, details his alleged relationship with the couple. And his departure from Liberty University helped him get there. [10][11] A Reuters investigation, published in August 2019, alleged that Falwell signed a real estate deal in 2016 that transferred the university's sports facilities to his personal trainer, who did not put down any money for the deal. The hockey players longtime partner Eliska Noskova. Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife, Becki Tilley Falwell. Transactions that personally benefit an individual could jeopardize Liberty's tax-exempt status. [70] On August 24, Reuters published their report that the man was the pool attendant with whom Falwell had invested in the hostel. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife, Becki Tilley, are the subjects of a new book detailing the love triangle between them and a pool boy. Hulu's provocative new documentary, "God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty," takes us back to August 2020, when news of Jerry Falwell Jr.'s sex scandal first became public . [35][36] According to one report, Falwell was only heard saying, "then we could end those Muslims before they walked in", with the "and killed them" part drowned out by applause. Jerry Falwell Jr. allegedly played games with his wife Becki where they'd rank Liberty University students they most wanted to have sex with, according to one pupil who claimed to have been . The affair eventually led Jerry Falwell Jr. to resign. Although his grandfather and father were atheists, Falwell accepted Jesus Christ in 1952, perhaps through the . They began pursuing each other sexually. It seeks over $10 million in damages. She said they met when Granda was working at the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami Beach, and that they had made sex tapes with each other. At the time, he attended Liberty University with Becki's sister. While vacationing at the Fontainebleau hotel pool in March 2012, Granda approached the couple and ended up slipping her his number, leading to flirtatious texts with Granda, the couple told Vanity Fair. Eventually, the relationship between Becki and Granda ended. Getty Images Details from Granda's book detail how the . Both Cohen and Jerry have denied this claim, per Vanity Fair. Per Reuters, she served on the advisory board of the group Women for Trump. .css-26w0xw{display:block;font-family:NationalBold,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-26w0xw:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-26w0xw{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-26w0xw{font-size:1.575rem;line-height:1.1;margin-bottom:-0.5rem;}}How To Avoid Unexpected Health Bills. He later faced a civil lawsuit from the school, which alleged that he created a well-resourced exit strategy from his role as president and chancellor in the form of a 2019 employment agreement while keeping details of his scandal secret, NBC reported. [14][15] On August 25, both Falwell and Liberty University confirmed that he had resigned. And I said, 'I'm dealing with it,'" Falwell Jr. said. Im partly to blame.Granda claimed that Jerry watched and taped the couple having sex, but Jerry said he only walked in on the couple having sex once. [40] On July 21, 2016, at the RNC convention in Cleveland, Ohio, Falwell Jr. called Trump "America's blue collar billionaire" and "one of the greatest visionaries of our time" in his endorsement of the candidate he felt most likely to defend the "right to bear arms," "stop Iranfrom becoming a nuclear power," and "appoint conservative pro-life justices to the Supreme Court". [31] In March 2019, Falwell again caused controversy among LGBT advocates at Liberty University when he said his granddaughter would be "raised according to her God-given gender". "We're together more than any couple you will ever meet in your life," Becki told Vanity Fair. It was a depressing thing; he struggled with depression [afterwards].. But I'm not," Falwell Jr., 59, told Vanity Fair in the interview, going on to call the period after his father's death "the worst three months of my life. Most recently, . But as that business relationship soured, the Falwells began to worry. [6], From 1987 until 2007, Falwell served in private practice in Virginia and as the lawyer for Liberty University and its related organizations. Distractify is a registered trademark. The doc tells the shocking story of a Miami pool attendant who later claimed he ended up tangled in a seven-year affair with a woman and her husband. She started noticing that the college-aged men on Liberty University's campus were giving her attention that I'd never gotten before. The student was 22 at the time. Becki denied the allegation, telling Vanity Fair it was so ridiculous., Earlier this year, the couple talked to Vanity Fair about Granda's allegations and the affair. Jerry Lamon Falwell ( 11 August 1933 - 15 May 2007) was an American pastor, Southern Baptist, televangelist, founder of the Moral Majority and Liberty University, and a prominent conservative activist. Aug. 25 2020, Updated 2:31 p.m. Back in 2020, news broke that prominent evangelical Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife Becki were involved in a sex scandal. Jerry was friends with Beckis older sister, and the two went on their first date when he was 23, and she was an 18-year-old college freshman, according to Vanity Fair. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Why Trust Us? After Becki's sexual relationship with Granda ended, he still remained part of their life due to his professional ties with Falwell Jr., the couple claimed. [24], In 1981, in a letter asking for support in keeping his "Old-Time Gospel Hour" television program on the air, Falwell spoke out against the "Homosexual Revolution", saying "With God as my witness, I pledge that Ill continue to expose the sin of homosexuality to the people of this nation. The controversy which includes raunchy photos, blackmail, infidelity, and a pool boy uncovers . 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. [41], In an August 19, 2016 editorial in The Washington Post, Falwell compared Trump to Winston Churchill. The couple still lives in Lynchburg, Virginia. He claimed that the Falwells started grooming him when he was only 20 and then treated him to nice vacations, rides on the university's private aircraft, and that they even made him a co-owner of a hostel in Miami Beach, per Vanity Fair. By Allison Cacich. James Melville "Mel" White (born June 26, 1940) is an American clergyman and author. Image Credit: Jerry Falwell Jr./Instagram Nevertheless, having admittedly forgiven one another, Jerry and Becki are still blissfully married and currently residing on their private farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia they're now proud parents as well as grandparents. "[25], In October 1999, at the invitation of his longstanding friend, Soulforce founder Mel White, Falwell hosted a meeting of 200 gays and lesbians and 200 members of his own congregation in Lynchburg, in a debate over gay rights. The documentary certainly doesnt disappoint. She was the aggressor,he told the outlet. Now, the scandalous story is the subject of a .css-7qz8rz{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#f7623b;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #feebe7 50%, #feebe7);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-7qz8rz:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}new Hulu documentary called God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty, which lays out the scandal and features interviews with Granda. Advertisement 4 Story continues below As the relationship between the Falwells and Granda continued to deteriorate, Falwell Jr. told Vanity Fair, Granda sent him a threatening text in June 2020, saying, "revenge is coming soonI'm taking everyone down with me with my side of the story. ET. According to his Instagram account, he currently works as a supervisor at LU Fabrication. I let it go on. "[38][39] It was later revealed, in a secretly recorded conversation with comedian Tom Arnold that Trump's personal lawyer and "fixer" Michael Cohen, had helped Falwell recover compromising photos prior to securing his endorsement. "The only way I could do it was to detach. Granda publicized the alleged affair in August 2020 by providingReuterswith screenshots, emails, and audio recordings of his interactions with the couple. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Jerry Falwell Jr. also described Granda's claims as an extortion plot in a statement to The Washington Examiner, after a business deal went south. So, who is Becki Falwell? Becki Tilley's husband and the father of three children is Jerry Tilley. "He said, 'I hope you're okay.' In 2018, a real estate-related lawsuit in Miami attracted the attention of a Buzzfeed News reporter, who was intrigued to find then-Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. sharing his previously-reported ownership of a local hostel with a pool attendant named Giancarlo Granda. his leadership is still in place. Marital status: Married. Giancarlo Grande on "Good Morning America," Aug. 28, 2020. W hen I heard that Jerry Falwell Jr. had resigned the presidency of Liberty University in disgrace, it struck me as the belated ending to a long personal saga with the Falwell clan . The next day Reuters published a story in which the man with whom Falwell's wife had an affair claimed that Falwell regularly watched him engaging in sexual activities with Falwell's wife. This is certainly a lot to take in, so its understandable to have questions, including what happened to Jerry Falwell Jr. and where he is now. The elder Falwell died at 73 in 2007. ", In March of 2012, she began the affair with Granda. "It's that dopamine rush. ", Becki said she decided to end their affair in 2014 after Granda started seriously dating someone else, noting that she "felt guilty.". Catch up on all the latest with the Falwell scandal now that God Forbid is available for streaming. Jerry Falwell, Jr. isn't letting a few scandals get in his way of partying with Liberty University graduates at a rager at his house in 2021, y'all! The Hulu documentary covers a high-profile affair involving a pool attendant and the prominent evangelical couple Becki Falwell and Jerry Falwell Jr. Example. One of them read, in part:You dont want to cover up those killer eyes of yours and you know the bandana drives me wild.. [19], In January 2022, Falwell Jr. and his wife, Becki Tilley, spoke about their scandal in an interview with Vanity Fair. Longtime Liberty officials close to Falwell told me the university president has shown or texted his male confidants including at least one employee who worked for him at Liberty photos of his wife in provocative and sexual poses. "It was traumatizing," Falwell Jr. was quoted as saying. The scandal involves Falwell and his wife Becki's relationship with a. In January, Becki told Vanity Fair that the affair is "the biggest regret I've ever had," adding later, "we're. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. "I had someone I could talk to," Becki told the magazine. God Forbid is now available for streaming on Hulu. "[28], In April 2009, following the Miss USA same-sex marriage controversy, Falwell offered a full scholarship to Carrie Prejean, a beauty pageant contestant who stated during the Miss USA pageant:[29][30]. Jerry Falwell Jr. is a prominent figure in the evangelical world whose support for presidential candidate Donald J. Trump helped secure Trump's Republican nomination in 2016. Becki explained that she felt lonely as her husbands career pressures grew. Were together more than any couple you will ever meet in your life,Becki toldVanity Fair. 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. Hulu has finally released the highly anticipated documentary God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty, which focuses on the sex scandal involving Jerry Falwell Jr., his wife Becki, and Giancarlo Granda, their former Miami pool attendant. Jerry Falwell Jr., Donald Trump's evangelical wingman, led a life of luxury thanks to his billion-dollar school but it all crashed down. 'Pool Boy' Giancarlo Granda: Where Is He Now. . He was married for 49 years to Macel Pate Falwell, who died in 2015 at the age of 82. More Than One 'Real Housewife' Can Be Found in Jeffrey Epstein's Little Black Book. In a Reuters report dated August 24, a former business associate of Falwell Jr. said he . Becki and Jerry Falwell were all smiles when they attended a Liberty Flames football game in October 2022. Trey Falwell, left, has left his job as vice president at Liberty University, bottom center, 8 months after his father Jerry Jr, right, quit as president of the Christian college over a sex scandal. who have been married since 1987 . Jerry Falwell Jr. resigned from his post as president of Liberty University on August 25. He forgave me, and thats what Jesus teaches, forgiveness.. All of a sudden this young, handsome fella starts texting you and giving you attention and youre like, wow, this is kind of nice.. Their lives first took a drastic turn following the 2007 death of Jerry's father, pastor and Liberty founder Jerry Falwell Sr. He acted on a lark, and was suddenly in . She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day. The accuser further claimed that Becki continued harassing him through Facebook messages. He resigned from his post under pressure from school officials, per NBC. They actually fell hard and fast, which is why she was the one to propose once he obtained his law degree from the University of Virginia a few years later, according to the Hulu production. [46], In March 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began to spread quickly in the United States, leading to the widespread closures of schools and universities. Starting with his 2007 appointment upon the death of his father, televangelist and conservative activist Jerry Falwell Sr., Falwell served as the president of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, until resigning in August 2020 amidst a sex scandal. After learning about the affair, Falwell Jr. said he still went through with a business deal involving Granda, investing $1.8 million in a hostel that Granda was also a partner in. ", Ultimately, Becki said she decided to end their sexual relationship in 2014 after Granda became serious with a girlfriend, because she "felt guilty. [22] In June 2017, Falwell confirmed to the Chronicle of Higher Education that he would be one of 15 college presidents participating in the task force. However, per Jerry and Beckis narrative, things between them changed a little after he took over the role of President at Liberty University following his fathers (the founders) death in 2007.

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