No one can take Jerry Falwell Jr.’s liberty away.
Even though Liberty University, where he was president for 13 years, recently sued him and forbid employees from talking to him, Falwell popped up onstage at a student event Thursday night and invited them to his nearby 500-acre farm for “the real Liberty graduation,” several news outlets reported.
“I just want to invite all the seniors to my farm on May 8. We’re going to have the real Liberty graduation,” Falwell told the roughly 200 students at the stand-up comedy event at an off-campus house, according to a video seen by POLITICO. “If you’re not a senior but you date one, you can come, too.”
Falwell’s tenure at the evangelical university in Virginia ended after a series of wild scandals involving him and his wife Becki last year. Becki allegedly had an affair with a former pool boy while Falwell reportedly watched, and Becki was also accused of initiating sex acts with a former student. To top it off, Falwell posted a photo showing himself with his pants unzipped and his arm around a woman on a yacht.
Falwell was not expected at Thursday’s event but showed up with Becki after it started. He admitted that his daughter, a Liberty student who was in the audience, had begged him not to come, POLITICO said.
Some students laughed and cheered Falwell on after he invited them to his farm.
“We’d love to have you out there. Becki says there’s no way we can plan it that fast, but we can and we will,” Falwell said, telling students to spread the word on social media.
Liberty University is investigating Falwell’s presidency for possible financial mismanagement but does not seem to be focused on his personal conduct.