Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife return to Liberty Campus after years-long ban lifted

After his recent settlement Former Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. returned to campus on Sept. 14 to attend the homecoming football game with his wife, Becki Falwell. The couple had been banned from campus for more than three years while embroiled in ongoing legal battles with the school.

At Saturday's event, Falwell told reporters, “It's so wonderful that after spending nearly 40 years imagining and building this, I can now come here and enjoy it without having all the responsibility on my shoulders.”

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Falwell, who was president of Liberty from 2007 to 2020, resigned amid allegations of misconduct and breach of contract. Church leaders reported, Falwell and his wife were involved in an extramarital sex scandal.

After he was forced to resign, Falwell sued Libertywith the goal of “restoring my reputation and hopefully helping to repair the damage done to the Liberty University brand.” Falwell's father, the Reverend Jerry Falwell Sr., founded the evangelical institution in 1971. Last year, the elder Falwell's trust sues Libertyand claimed that the school had exploited the name, picture and image of the deceased conservative figure (NIL).

Jerry Falwell Jr.: “Wonderful” to be back in Liberty

At the home game, the Liberty students welcomed the Falwells warmly. “We see [students] in town,” Jerry Falwell said. “They come up to us, talk to us and want to take pictures, and that happened all the time.”

Becki Falwell said it “feels like we're back home.” The couple has always loved attending football games, with the “great family-friendly atmosphere,” she said. The Liberty Flames defeated the University of Texas at El Paso 28-10.

Jerry Falwell Jr. said of his absence:

I was so sick for over a year and a half after I left, with this rare genetic thing that [doctors] a while to figure that out. Once I got that behind me, I set about clearing up all the lies that were being told about me and that was a lot of work for a couple of years. I was really 100% I was focused on it 24/7, so I really had no time to come back [to Liberty] previously.

Jerry Falwell Jr. can now enjoy his “finished product” at Liberty

In August, after his ban from Liberty was lifted, Falwell said, “I've been too focused on clearing my name over the last few years to have any reason to come to campus.”

“Since 2020, students and locals have been super supportive when I meet them in town, and I have received incredible support by phone and email from alumni across the country,” Falwell added.