The president of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell Jr.
, stepped down from his position two days after he apologized for sharing an Instagram photo showing him with unzipped pants next to a woman.
The deleted photo immediately sparked controversy as the university’s strict code of conduct for students requires them to dress with ‘modesty’ and ‘appropriateness.’
Liberty University issued a statement on Twitter: “The Executive Committee of Liberty University’s Board of Trustees, acting on behalf of the full Board, met today and requested Jerry Falwell Jr.point 276 |
take an indefinite leave of absence from his roles as President and Chancellor of Liberty University, to which he has agreed, effective immediately.point 126 | ”point 129 | 1
The post did not explain what prompted the university to ask for the president to take the leave.
North Carolina Rep. Mark Walker, who taught at the university, wrote on Twitter saying Fallwell should resign.
“Jerry Falwell Jr’s ongoing behavior is appalling. As a Music Faculty Advisory Board Member and former instructor @LibertyU, I’m convinced Falwell should step down,” Walker tweeted. “None of us are perfect, but students, faculty, alumni and @LUPraise deserve better.”
In an interview with Morninline on WLNI 1059, Falwell explained that the woman in the photo was his wife’s assistant, adding he is “gonna try to be a good boy from here on out.”
He continued: “You know it was weird, because she was, she’s pregnant, she couldn’t get her pants up, and I was, trying to like — my, I had on a pair of jeans I haven’t worn in a long time so I couldn’t get mine zipped either.
“And so I just put my belly — I just put my belly out like hers.”
Falwell added: “I should never have put it up and embarrassed her because, um, anyway, I’ve apologized to everybody and I promised my kids, I’m gonna try to be a good boy from here on out.”
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Replaced!