Jerry Falwell Jr. Apologizes For Blackface Tweet On Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam

Liberty University President, Jerry Falwell Jr. apologized for his tweet in which he referred to Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam as the “blackface governor,” along with the blackface photo from Northam’s medical school yearbook.

“After listening to African American LU leaders and alumni over the past week and hearing their concerns, I understand that by tweeting an image to remind all of the governor’s racist past, I actually refreshed the trauma that image had caused and offended some by using the image to make a political point,” Falwell tweeted. “Based on our long relationships, they uniformly understood this was not my intent, but because it was the result. I have deleted the tweet and apologize for any hurt my effort caused, especially within the African American community.”

After listening to African American LU leaders and alumni over the past week and hearing their concerns, I understand that by tweeting an image to remind all of the governor’s racist past (Part 1/3)

— Jerry Falwell (@JerryFalwellJr) June 8, 2020

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

In late May, Falwell tweeted that he would only wear a face mask if a picture of Northam wearing a blackface costume was illustrated on it.

 “Just a way to shine a spotlight on the fact that Democrats are and always have been the real racists in this country,” Falwell wrote in the tweet, which he now has deleted. 

Falwell’s apology comes after Liberty University’s alumni and faculty signed a letter, condemning his actions and urging the students to boycott the university and stop donating. A black professor also resigned after the tweet.

“You have belittled staff, students and parents, you have defended inappropriate behaviors of politicians, encouraged violence, and disrespected people of other faiths,” the letter read.