A Houston Chronicle reporter posted what appears to be a screenshot from Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr's Instagram account, and it's going viral on social media. The unconfirmed photo appears to be of Falwell Jr., with his arm around a young woman, his pants unzipped with underwear showing. He is holding a glass.
"More vacation shots," the caption reads. "Lots of good friends visited us on the yacht. I promised that's only black water in my glass. It was a prop only."
Robert Downen, whose bio says he reports on "All things faith/religion" for the Houston Chronicle, tweeted out the screenshot.
wut is happening https://t.co/8iEOr9EeRQ— Robert Downen (@Robert Downen) 1596426987.0
Downen says the post is "real," citing three sources.
Hi Chris. OG tweeter of said photo/religion reporter. Three people have independently told me it’s real. https://t.co/6ToTIXSu8z— Robert Downen (@Robert Downen) 1596480915.0
Relevant magazine, which says it is "the leading platform reaching Christian twenty- and thirtysomethings," also called it "a bizarre Instagram post."
Pulpit & Pen News, which says it is "is a media outreach of the Fellowship Baptist Church," also reported on the photo, saying: "To say that this behavior is unbecoming and scandalous for a president of a Christian university is an understatement."
They say Falwell Jr. also posted and then deleted a video of they describe as "Trailer Park Boys" on a yacht.
Some online responses:
First, the pool boy. Now, this unzipped drunken debauchery. Are you starting to – finally – understand why "Chris… https://t.co/7i5kFHeGMJ— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers) 1596473847.0
It’s interesting that Jerry Falwell felt the need to explain what he’s drinking over the other more obvious issues… https://t.co/mKWPWU0WX6— Jimmy Humphrey (Jimmy’s Table Podcast) (@Jimmy Humphrey (Jimmy’s Table Podcast)) 1596459921.0
Jerry Falwell Jr. just posted a picture of himself in his underwear so we have officially reached the low point of… https://t.co/IwAV60L5Bv— Jacob Denhollander (@Jacob Denhollander) 1596469073.0
Re: Jerry Falwell yacht photo. The impulse is to laugh in disgust/horror at the photo. But it should actively an… https://t.co/q5OEA5ipJr— Alexandra M. Green (@Alexandra M. Green) 1596475764.0
Last Sept., Falwell said that a photo of him at a Miami nightclub was "likely photo-shopped". He later said he was… https://t.co/yBKXpruuAm— Napp Nazworth (@Napp Nazworth) 1596478522.0
Nothing to see here folks, just the Rev. Jerry Falwell Jr. posing with his pants open with a woman who isn't his wi… https://t.co/NLHvZmHbPH— John Smith Chicago (@John Smith Chicago) 1596481492.0
In his own way, Falwell is the best thing to happen to free thought since Bertrand Russell or Tom Paine. https://t.co/SrqnScyFff— Jeet Heer (@Jeet Heer) 1596480573.0
Re: Jerry Falwell Jr’s vacay ‘gram: That photo would be insane for ANYONE to post, not just an evangelical leader (… https://t.co/jhGyfZrKps— Lucy Caldwell (@Lucy Caldwell) 1596481365.0
