Jerry Falwell Jr. says he’s sorry for posting a photo of himself with his pants unzipped.
The president of Liberty University and close friend of President Trump explained the picture in an interview with WLNI 105.9FM on Wednesday.
“I’ve apologized to everybody,” he said. “And I’ve promised my kids I’m gonna try to be a good boy from here on out.”
The photo showed Falwell and his wife’s assistant. The two were pictured with their pants unzipped and their stomachs exposed. Part of Falwell’s underwear was visible. He posted the photo on Instagram and then deleted it.
Prominent conservatives question Jerry Falwell Jr. vacation photo https://t.co/4MnkQKtrhR pic.twitter.com/mx0dkcJcvh
— The Hill (@thehill) August 4, 2020
“She’s pregnant, so she couldn’t get her pants up,” he said. “I had on pair of jeans that I hadn’t worn in a long time, so I couldn’t get mine zipped either. And so, I just put my belly out like hers.”
“She’s a sweetheart, and I should never have put it up and embarrassed her,” Falwell added.
Politico pointed out that the picture appeared to be a parody of the television show Trailer Park Boys, but when asked about the show, Falwell responded, “Whatever.”
“It was a costume party on a — we were on vacation,” he said. “And, anyway, long story short, it was just in good fun. That’s it.”
Falwell has been the subject of several recent controversies. Most notably, he settled a lawsuit in October related to purported sexually compromising photos involving him, his wife, and a “pool boy” they met at a Miami Beach hotel, who claimed he was offered an ownership stake of a gay-friendly youth hostel in the area the couple purchased in 2013.
Liberty University is famous for its strict dress code, under which Falwell’s outfit in the Instagram picture wouldn’t have fallen.
