'Like living on a roller coaster': Jerry Falwell Jr. speaks out on wife's affair
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) -- Former Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr. said Sunday that his wife had an affair with a family friend that sent him into a depression he said was “like living on a roller coaster.”
According to a statement sent to the Washington Examiner, Falwell wrote that his wife, Becki Falwell, had an “inappropriate personal relationship" with a former family friend and that he has been threatening to expose it.
“Over the course of the last few months this person’s behavior has reached a level that we have decided the only way to stop this predatory behavior is to go public,” the statement said.
He said the affair only lasted for a short time and the two reconciled quickly.
In the statement, Falwell claims he suffered depression and lost 80 pounds.
He said it was a good time to speak out “because the Liberty community deserves to hear it directly from me and from us" and said the situation was "like living on a roller coaster."
Although Falwell did not mention any names, the Washington Examiner says dozens of news stories published over the years cited the man as Giancarlo Granda.
This statement comes after Fallwell was suspended after he posted a controversial photo on Instagram.
Earlier this month, Falwell posted a photo on Instagram of himself and a woman, he claimed was his wife's assistant, both with their pants unzipped.
In the statement, Falwell says he hopes that his story will inspire others to seek mental health resources.
“I shouldn’t have been afraid to admit my vulnerabilities and to reach out for assistance from the mental health professionals who could have alleviated this pain and stress,” Falwell wrote.
ABC13 reached out to Falwell for a statement but he said he won't be doing media interviews at this time.
However, a source close to the family tells ABC 13 that Falwell stands by his statement the Washington Examiner.
This source also says Falwell denies the allegations made in the article published in Reuters.
