Jerry Falwell Jr.

{{bronze}}[[File:Jerry Falwell Jr. (49271094941).jpg|thumb|right|165px|Jerry Falwell Jr. receiving the [[Turning Point USA]] "Patriot of the Year" award, shortly before unzipping his fly for the world to see]]{{christianity}}

{{cquote|[[Jesus]] said love our neighbors as ourselves but never told Caesar how to run [[Rome]] — he never said Roman soldiers should turn the other cheek{{efn|Though it says in {{bible|Matthew|5|38|39}} "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.", Falwell [[Hypocrisy|did not turn the other cheek when he sued Liberty University for forcing him to resign]].<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jerry-falwell-jr-suing-liberty-university-after-his-forced-resignation-n1245258 Jerry Falwell Jr. is suing Liberty University after his forced resignation over sex scandal: The former president was ousted earlier this year and now hints he was victim of political retribution.] by David K. Li (Oct. 29, 2020, 6:56 AM PDT / Updated Oct. 29, 2020, 1:14 PM PDT) ''NBC News''.</ref>}} in battle or that Caesar should allow all the barbarians to be Roman citizens or that Caesar should [[tax]] the rich to help [[poor]]. That’s our job.|||Jerry Falwell Jr. explaining how [[Crucifiction|crucifying]] Christ was justified from a Christian point of view.<ref name=bruenig>[https://archive.is/6rM20 How Jerry Falwell Jr. found his MAGA religion] by Elizabeth Bruenig (2 January 2019) ''The Washington Post''.</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/02/how-jerry-falwell-jr-found-his-maga-religion/ Jesus said love our neighbors as ourselves but never told Caesar how to run Rome-he never said Roman soldiers should turn the other cheek in battle or that Caesar should allow all the barbarians to be Roman citizens or that Caesar should tax the rich to help poor. That’s our job.] by Jerry Falwell Jr. (4:15 PM - 25 Jan 2018) ''Twitter' (archived from 18 Mar 2021 03:03:16 UTC).</ref>}}

{{cquote|We were ''that'' close to having an [[Creationism|evolution denier]], [[climate change]] [[Conspiracy theory|conspiracist]], and Christian fundamentalist in charge of our nation’s [[public schools]].|||[[Hemant Mehta]]<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/11/26/jerry-falwell-jr-donald-trump-offered-me-the-secretary-of-education-job-but-i-turned-it-down/ Jerry Falwell, Jr.: Donald Trump Offered Me the Secretary of Education Job, But I Turned It Down]</ref>}}

'''Jerry Lamon Falwell Jr.''' {{lived|1962}} is an [[American]] attorney, [[evangelical]] [[Christian]] activist, and former academic administrator. He served as president of [[Liberty University]] from [[Jerry Falwell Sr.|his father's]] death in 2007 until resigning in disgrace in 2020.

Falwell was the most prominent evangelical leader to embrace [[Donald Trump]], showing that the lack of [[morality]] among the [[Moral Majority]] is intergenerational. There was concern that Trump may [[ironically]] have appointed him Secretary of Education, instead of someone [[Betsy DeVos|just as bad]].<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/11/20/creationist-jerry-falwell-jr-met-with-donald-trump-about-a-possible-dept-of-education-position/ Creationist Jerry Falwell, Jr. Met with Donald Trump About a Possible Dept. of Education Position]</ref><ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/11/20/jerry-falwell-jr-secretary-of-education/ Jerry Falwell, Jr → SECRETARY OF EDUCATION?]</ref> Falwell says he was offered the education job but turned it down.

Falwell fails to even understand basic Christian [[theology]] ([[Augustine of Hippo]]), because [[greed]].<ref name=bruenig/>

Falwell ruled Liberty University with an [[Dictator|iron fist]], forcing faculty and students alike to not deviate from pro-Trumpist, [[far-right]] Christianity.<ref>Will E. Young, [https://archive.ph/Jloig Inside Liberty University’s ‘culture of fear’: How Jerry Falwell Jr. silences students and professors who reject his pro-Trump politics.] The Washington Post, 24 July 2019.</ref><ref name=bailey>Sarah Pulliam Bailey, [https://archive.is/tHTT2 "Jerry Falwell Jr.: ‘If more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those’ Islamist terrorists"] Archived from the original at The Washington Post, 5 December 2015.</ref> Falwell promotes right wing [[conspiracy theories]]; for example, he used social media to claim that [[Hillary Clinton]] conspired with [[Russia]] to come up with the {{wpl|Steele Dossier||.}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190701135113/https://twitter.com/JerryFalwellJr/status/1145404616139595776 .@HillaryClinton colluded with Russia to buy a phony dossier to influence the outcome of a presidential election BUT, if USA hadn’t colluded with Russia, we would’ve lost WWII in Europe or would’ve had to use atomic weapons there. That’s how HRC justified her actions, I suppose🙄] (11:51 AM - 30 Jun 2019) ''Twitter'' (archived from July 1, 2019).</ref>

==Downfall (well)==

2020 was a year of controversy for Falwell. Lowlights include flippant dismissal of [[COVID-19]], calls for parts of Virginia to [[secession|secede]] from the state, and a [[racist]] tweet that resulted in many [[African American]] employees and athletes quitting Liberty University.<ref name="finalstraw"></ref>
In August 2020, Falwell posted a picture to Instagram from a party on a yacht. In that photo, he revealed that he was a fan of the show {{wpl|Trailer Park Boys}} (as he was dressed like one of the characters from the show), a fan of 
rum and Coke
 
Cuba libre
 "black water", and lastly, a big fan of posting selfies to [[Instagram]] with his pants unzipped, exposing his underwear choice of the day to the world.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/04/jerry-falwell-jr-head-of-liberty-university-photo-pants-unzipped "Jerry Falwell Jr accused of hypocrisy after sharing photo of pants unzipped"] by Adam Gabbatt, The Guardian, 2020 Aug 4</reF><ref>[http://archive.is/NXntr "wut is happening"], Tweet by @RobDownenChron (Robert Downen, Houston Chronicle reporter), archived on 8 Aug 2020</ref> This clearly violated Liberty University's dress code regulations, and violated Liberty's policy on drinking alcohol. A poster on Reddit calculated that if a Liberty University student was captured in the same scene, thanks to Liberty's strict social regulations, the student could possibly have accrued more than $9,000 in school fines and 900 hours of required service, and possible expulsion.<ref name="finalstraw">[https://slate.com/human-interest/2020/08/falwell-jr-yacht-photo-departure-from-liberty-university.html "Why That Falwell Jr. Yacht Photo Was the Final Straw"] by Ruth Graham, Slate, 2020 August 7</ref> This was the last straw for many Liberty University faculty. 

If there are two things that make evangelicals ''really'' uncomfortable, it is [[alcohol]] and [[sex]]. The yacht photo contained both. Outrage was widespread in the evangelical community,<ref name="finalstraw"></ref> and consequently, Falwell took an "indefinite leave of absence" from the university.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/07/us/jerry-falwell-jr-liberty-university-leave/index.html "Jerry Falwell Jr. will take a leave of absence from Liberty University"] by Dakin Andone, CNN, 2020 August 7</ref> 

Adding even more to Falwell's woes, a business partner (Giancarlo Granda){{efn|The 20-something Granda, who had practically no business experience, was often referred in the media as the "pool boy", due to his prior occupation as a pool attendant before being hired by the Falwells for the [[fucking|very serious business venture]].}} alleged that he was involved in a multiyear sexual relationship with Falwell and his wife.<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/trump-jerry-falwell-jr-miami-beach-pool-boy-evangelical-explained-850380/ The Saga of Jerry Falwell Jr.’s Bizarre Relationship With a Miami Beach Pool Boy, Explained] by Ryan Bort (June 20, 2019) ''Rolling Stone''.</ref><ref name="bigranda">Aram Roston, [https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-falwell-relationship/ Business partner of Falwells says affair with evangelical power couple spanned seven years]. Reuters, 24 August 2020.</ref> [[Irony|Ironically]] (considering the considerable use of the insult [[Alt-right_glossary#Cuck|''cuckold'' or ''cuck'']] as a [[Loaded_language#Snarl_words|snarl word]] among [[Donald Trump]] supporters online,<ref>[https://www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/2017/08/evolution-cuck-shows-different-far-right-groups-are-learning-same-language "The evolution of “cuck” shows that different far-right groups are learning the same language"] by Tim Squirrell, New Statesman, 2017 August 3</ref> and Falwell's unswerving support for Trump)<ref>Rob Boston, [https://www.au.org/church-state/february-2019-church-state-magazine/people-events/falwell-says-nothing-could-lead-him Falwell Says Nothing Could Lead Him To Drop Support For Trump]. Church and State Magazine, February 2019.</ref> according to the allegations, Falwell "enjoyed watching from the corner of the room" while the business partner had [[sex]] with his wife.<ref name="bigranda"></ref> This is essentially the literal definition of {{wpl|Cuckold#Cuckoldry as a fetish|what a "cuck" really is|.}} The Falwells had also had engaged the services of Michael Cohen, Trump's disgraced personal lawyer, to keep a number of incriminating photographs from the public — this happened before Cohen was imprisoned and turned on Trump.<ref name=guardian2020>Victoria Bekiempis, [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/25/jerry-falwell-jr-resigns-liberty-university-backtracks Jerry Falwell Jr confirms he has resigned from Liberty University]. The Guardian, 25 August 2020.</ref>

On August 24, 2020, Falwell resigned as president of Liberty University, and withdrew from the university's board or directors.<ref name=guardian2020 /><ref>Susan Svrluga, Sarah Pulliam Bailey and Michelle Boorstein, [https://archive.is/v4BD3 Jerry Falwell Jr confirms he has resigned from Liberty University]. Archived from the original at The Washington Post, 24 August 2020.</ref> To add insult to injury, Lynchburg, [[Virginia]], where the school is located, went blue for the first time in over 70 years<ref>Laura Vozzella and Susan Svrluga, [https://archive.is/GBKN7 Lynchburg goes blue for president for the first time since Harry Truman in 1948]. Archived from the original at The Washington Post, 8 November 2020.</ref> during the [[2020 U.S. presidential election]], rejecting his favorite president.

In late October 29, 2020, Falwell Jr. sued Liberty University for breach of contract and bizarrely, given the complete lack of a connection of Liberty University to Falwell Jr.'s exhibitionist/cuckold lifestyle, defamation.{{efn|Also bizarrely, the Falwell Jr. lawsuit took swipes at the [[Lincoln Project]], prompting some fine mockery of Falwell from Lincoln Project senior advisor Kurt Bardella.<ref name="falwellsuit">[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jerry-falwell-jr-suing-liberty-university-after-his-forced-resignation-n1245258 "Jerry Falwell Jr. is suing Liberty University after his forced resignation over sex scandal"] by David K. Li, NBC News, 2020 October 29</ref>}}<ref name="falwellsuit"/> Predictably for such a baseless lawsuit, it was dropped by December 2020.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/12/10/falwell-liberty-lawsuit/ "Jerry Falwell Jr. drops lawsuit against Liberty University"] by Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Washington Post, 2020 December 10</ref>

Using Virginia's unique "business conspiracy" law that makes it illegal for two or more people to conspire to harm the reputation of a business,<ref>[https://www.mottleylawfirm.com/faqs/business-conspiracy-explained.cfm "What Is A Business Conspiracy?"] by the Kevin W. Mottley, The Mottley Law Firm</ref> Liberty University fired back on April 2021 by suing Falwell Jr. for $10 million. The charges also included breach of contract and fiduciary duty.<ref name=“falwellsuitNPR”>[https://www.npr.org/2021/04/16/988227908/liberty-university-sues-ex-president-jerry-falwell-jr-seeking-millions-in-damage "Liberty University Sues Ex-President Jerry Falwell, Jr., Seeking Millions In Damages"] by Rachel Treisman, NPR, 2021 April 16</ref> One of Falwell Jr.'s defenses in the "pool boy" affair (in an August 23, 2020 article in the [[Washington Examiner]]) was a claim, denied by Granda, that Granda was trying to extort money from the Falwells over the matter. The suit alleges that Falwell knowingly withheld this information during his contract renegotiation in 2019 — according to the lawsuit, had Liberty known "the full circumstances of Granda's extortion of Falwell Jr.," "the Executive Committee would have refrained from entering into the [2019 agreement]". The lawsuit also complained that Falwell failed to disclose and address his issues with [[alcohol]]. In an additional sting for the Falwell family, a son of Falwell Jr., Trey Falwell, was dismissed from his role as a Liberty University vice president in April 2021.<ref>[https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/14/falwell-son-liberty-university-481557 "Falwell’s son out as VP at Liberty University"] by Brandon Ambrosino and Michael Stratford, Politico, 2021 April 14</ref><ref name=“falwellsuitNPR”></ref><ref>[https://www.wric.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/74/2021/04/680CL21000354-00PO-1.pdf Liberty University Inc. v. Jerry L. Falwell Jr.,] Complaint, 2021 April 15</ref>

==De-evangelization==
Following his bitter feud with the Liberty University Executive Committee, Falwell claimed that he is no longer an evangelical, though still a [[right-wing]] Christian:

{{quotebox|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 [[sin]]s [[Not as bad as|aren’t as bad as]] everyone else’s.<ref>[https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/01/inside-jerry-falwell-jr-unlikely-rise-and-precipitous-fall Inside Jerry Falwell Jr.’s Unlikely Rise and Precipitous Fall at Liberty University] by Gabriel Sherman (January 24, 2022) ''Vanity Fair''.</ref>}}

==External links==
*[https://www.au.org/church-state/october-2020-church-state-magazine/featured/farewell-to-falwell-controversial-trump Farewell To Falwell: Controversial Trump Ally And Liberty University President Had A History Of Unusual Behavior]

==Notes==
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==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Falwell Jr., Jerry}}
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