Jerry Falwell Jr. Wife Pool Photos
Jerry Falwell Jr., an American attorney, former academic administrator, and prominent figure in the Evangelical Christian community, made headlines in 2020 due to a photo controversy. As the son of Jerry Falwell Sr., the founder of the Moral Majority political movement and Liberty University, Falwell Jr. was expected to uphold the same moral standards imposed by his religious community. However, an incident involving some contentious pool photos sparked a scandal that eventually led to his resignation as president of Liberty University.
In August 2020, Falwell Jr. posted a photo on his Instagram account that depicted him with his arm around a woman who was not his wife, Becki Falwell. Both of them appeared with their pants unzipped and Falwell Jr. was holding a dark-colored drink, which he joked was a prop only and referred to as “black water”. The woman in the photo was later identified as a family friend.
This image caused a stir due to the stringent code of conduct at Liberty University, which strictly prohibits sexual relations outside of a biblically-ordained marriage, and alcohol consumption, among other things. The fact that the photo was posted by the university’s president, who is expected to lead by example, resulted in significant criticism and controversy.
Following the posting of the photo, Falwell Jr. initially took an indefinite leave of absence from his role as Liberty University’s president and later resigned in August 2020. Around the same time, further controversies and allegations about Falwell Jr. and his wife’s personal life emerged, amplifying the scandal.
The incident involving the pool photos stands as a stark reminder of the scrutiny public figures often face, especially those in positions of moral or religious authority. It also raised questions about the boundaries between personal and professional life, the responsibility of leaders to uphold the values they promote, and the impact of social media on reputational risk.
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife, Becki Falwell, are navigating the aftermath of these controversies and the impact they had on their professional and personal lives.
