Bishop Eddie Long’s Lawyers Address the Scandal (and the “Muscle Shirt” Pics) on the Tom Joyner Morning Show

Saturday, September 25th 2010 | Leave a Comment

Bishop Eddie Long is currently at the center of a huge sex scandal involving four other men — 23-year-old Jamal Pariss, 21-year-old Anthony Flagg, 20-year-old Maurice Robinson and a currently unidentified young man — who are all members of the congregation at his church in Lithonia, Georgia. Above are VERY SUSPECT cell phone shots Long allegedly sent to the young men.

The New Birth Missionary Baptist Church pastor was sued this week after two of the four young men teamed up in a lawsuit alleging that Long coerced them into have sex in exchange for money, cars, expensive clothes, international trips/vacations, and more. In their lawsuit, the men say this has been going on for years and are seeking a trial by jury and unspecified damages.

Long denies the allegations and offered his first public statement since the lawsuit came about via the Tom Joyner Morning show, however the famous religious leader didn’t read the statement himself like he was supposed to. Instead, his lawyers spoke on his behalf, adding that “Bishop” Long would speak on this matter in front of his congregation in church service this Sunday (Sep 26).

Check out the statement Long released to the Tom Joyner Morning Show (via his lawyer Craig Gillen) below:

“I am anxious to respond directly to these false allegations and I will do so. However, my lawyers have counseled patience at this time. But let me be clear; the charges against me and New Birth are false. I have devoted my life to helping others and these false allegations hurt me deeply.

“These false allegations are an attack on Bishop Long personally. They are an attack on New Birth and all of the 25,000 good people who attend that church, and it’s an attack on the mentoring program that has helped thousands of young men. Let me be clear. The charges against me and New Birth are false.”

Gillen said Long, a married father of four, was “chomping at the bit” to speak out on the the show, but that he had advised against doing so. Gillen questioned the character of some of the men who filed the lawsuits. At least one, Maurice Robinson, was arrested in connection with a June break-in at the church. He said lawyers are trying to get a copy of a tape of the burglary. Gillen said the lawsuits have “ignited a firestorm against this good man.” He implied the motives of the lawsuits were money.

Originally, Long himself was scheduled to be interviewed by Roland Martin on the Joyner show. The interview was canceled after a third man filed a lawsuit accusing the prominent minister of using his pastoral influence to coerce him into a sexual relationship. The lawsuits also name New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and the LongFellows Youth Academy.

On Wednesday, a representative of Long’s team sent out a statement saying that a press conference would be held during the early part of Thursday. Gillen also went on the Frank and Wanda Morning Show on V-103. He said there should be some corroborating evidence that supports the allegations before people file lawsuits and “run to every microphone” they possibly can.

On Sunday, Gillen said, Long will address his congregation and would “be speaking from his heart.”

Source: AJC

Eddie Long’s attorney also spoke on the “muscle shirt” pics above saying that they have nothing to do with the charges brought against his client:

“The photos don’t corroborate these charges. [Bishop Long] is a health advocate, he’s a weight lifter. He’s a fella, who’s gonna go to work and he’s gonna have on a muscle shirt. And you know he may show up in church in a muscle shirt. There’s nothing really in those photographs that seems to me corroborative of these allegations.”

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  • Mr Gino

    He’s a Fag

  • http://www.relentlessaaron.com relentlessaaron

    SUNDAY MORNING’S AJC HEADLINE READS: “POWERFUL PASTOR’S MINISTRY PUT TO TEST.” And then there’s the feature headline: “APOSTLE OF MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY FACES TRIAL OF HIS INTEGRITY” And I immediately told myself: “IS THEY FUCKING KIDDING ME?” These headlines from THIS credible newspaper? The HEADLINES are nothing more than a damned ENDORSEMENT! They psychologically EMBRACE EDDIE LONG’S challenge as if it’s a hurdle he must max. Not that he’s trying to save his spiraling dynasty. The AJC’s story is something like having a leading publicist on your team, and I’m sure it’s not for free. And I have had just about enough.

    Addressing the AJC: SHAME ON YOU to the editor who gave this a pass. HOW MUCH HAS/IS READY-EDDIE PAID/PAYING YOU? This is a TEST? Not a TRAGEDY?? REALLY? And he has INTEGRITY at risk?

    You have a LEADING ATTORNEY who took on the cases of the boys, and you have her BROADCASTING the allegations that disrobe this dude’s decade-long fiasco; you have her bold (mostly) unchallenged embrace, of these allegations with her mention of corroborating evidence; you have now 4 lawsuits filed, from different boys (two of whom the ready-Eddie Wrong’s cronie publicists cannot tie to crimes or discredit), and as many as 30 others who the attorney says are forthcoming with their claims, including the papertrail to back up their claims; and then there are the photos that were sent to the boys phones and/or emails. Add to that the graphic details and accounts from the boys of the trips and the intimate details of their sexual engagements with Ready Eddie/greater details than even me, an award-winning/best-selling author can imagine??? I PUT MY CAREER ON THE LINE, EVERY BOOK THAT I’VE EVER WRITTEN, FILM DEALS and MY ESTABLISHED CLIENT BASE and CREDIBILITY and tell you that this cat is EXPOSED. He’s FILTHY & GUILTY. Even his actions in the wake of these lawsuits are not the actions of an innocent man. They are the methods, ways and means of every other guilty official, leader and martyr our history has ever known.

    I have become a skilled writer because of ONE IMPORTANT TOOL that I’ve mastered. And that’s HUMAN NATURE. I can look at a person and usually tell their age, if they’re righteous, if they have ulterior motives, or if they’re downright purposeless. Talk to them and I can tell if they’re tech-savvy, experienced, or connected. I’ve simply been there and done that, on many sides of this coin called life. Hence, I can look at Ready-Eddie’s eyes, I can riff through his preachings and transcripts, and I can tell you I’ve seen him OVER AND OVER AGAIN. These cats FILL THE PRISON SYSTEM. Although, many others (like Ready Eddie Wrong) have escaped the jaws of justice for one reason or another, whether its great lawyers, deep pockets or one person had a better talk game than another. Comments of Ready Eddie Wrong, complete with machismo and ego and everything that come in the “tool kit for cocky celebrities” can be found here:
    http://www.newbirth.org/download/Spirit_Truth_2008_Conference_Notes.pdf

    Really: he said “I have come tonight to release the creative ability of the Creator over your life”

    And if it sounds like ejaculate to you, then you’re just as clear as I am about the intent of Ready-Eddie Wrong.
    And there’s more: Ready Eddie Wrong was mentored by Earl Paulk. Earl Paulk died last year, and was an evangelical mega-church leader accused of having sex with many women in his congregation, including his brother’s wife and his own granddaughter. In fact, there are similarities between Long’s “Spiritual Sons” program in which his three young accusers were members and Paulk’s “Kingdom Relationships” program. It is said that both were really designed to sexually gratify the clergymen. *I say, the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. Donald Trump became a real estate titan, just like his dad. Mike Douglass became an a-list actor, just like his dad. And, Ready Eddie Wrong, (in my own crisp imagination) most likely saw Earl Paulk as “daddy,” in more than one way. Thing is, Trumph’s excess and Douglass’s “greed-is-good” performance has NOTHING on Long’s real-time issues. While Paulk’s activities went on for some 20 years, Long’s game has been brought to a sudden hault.

    WHERE DO I RUN TO?
    Hard to find a righteous preacher these days? Then turn to your SELF! You’ve invested some of your life savings into a man who is a MONSTER underneath. Most of his sermon in the referenced link is to DEFEND HIS SPENDING HABITS and THE WAY HIS OPERATES. Nothing but a bunch of rhetoric to justify his absence. And yet, while the real people and issues need him, he’s spending time, in bed, with our sons. One claim is how a boy turned 18, in New Zealand, while giving Ed head. Do you want that for your son? Are the parents of these boys gonna just put up with this under the guise of “forgiveness?”

    Yes, there is a large community at stake here, and if Ready Eddie Wrong falls, they will be lost. But better to be lost and wrapped in truth, then found inside of Ready Eddie’s robe, like these young boys who he’s influenced into his bed. If Ready-Eddie and his ministry REALLY cared about people, and if these allegations were not at all true, then they might’ve spoke to the charges much differently. Such as being sorry and perhaps offering some sort of counseling to the boys; and assistance in the life plights. Else, whats their motive for coming at Ready Eddie? What do they have to gain by saying “he had sex with us?” Afterall, couldn’t they have done that anytime in the past few years? Instead, they’re coming out because they’re encouraged to tell the truth. The truth is allowing them therapy for the sordid details of their lives and this feels good to share the truth, and that’s the first step towards fixing this mess in their lives. There will be books, movies, and the Newbirth Ministry will unfortunately always have Ready Eddie Wrong’s cloud over them.

    I KNOW Ready-Eddie and his flock are smiling at the TOTAL KISS-ASS that the AJC has in store for the Sunday readership. But it’s not gonna fly. And I couldn’t care LESS what Ready-Eddie says to his following on Sunday. What I wanna hear is that witnesses were there to watch Eddie Wrong shoot himself in the head. “APOSTLE OF MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY???” This has got to be the most BLATANT try at reversing the effect that Ready Eddie’s photos have left on everyone. It virtually gives him an alibi for having sent these EXCLUSIVE pics of his body to these boys. I can see the reasoning now on Sunday, before his brainwashed followers:

    READY EDDIE WRONG: (with his straight face) “Those pictures were nothing more than me showing these young men what they COULD look like if they maintain proper health and fitness. Its all part of our spiritual health program at Longfellow!”

    Yup. And his believers will believe. Except, the most savvy of us DO NOT believe that in the least. We KNOW that for a young man (much less up to 30 young men) to admit that a grown man put his penis in their mouths, rectums, etc is the TOUGHEST THING IN THE WORLD. It goes against everything that young men embrace in this day and age. They tried to get back at Ready Eddie by stealing jewelry. That didn’t work. The church exposed their crime. And now they’re exposing Ready Eddie’s bigger crime. Ready Eddie Wrong committed one of humanities greatest crimes; he snatched the choices of these young men and their future sexual choices. He lied and used his ministry’s power to then release his own lack of manhood and esteem into these boys bodies as though they were but vortex sleeves for his frustrations; not the promising young men that his Longfellow Youth Academy claims to raise.

    Finally, my prayers go out to those boys who lost their innocence to Eddie’s “Long Fellow;” boys who will struggle for the rest of their lives for an identity and prosperity that most likely would have been far & away from the seedy spiritual sperm left on them compliments of READY EDDIE WRONG.

    *http://wsbradio.com/localnews/2010/09/earl-paulk-mentored-bishop-edd.html

  • Matt

    Doesn’t every pastor take photos of themselves in the bathroom, wearing skintight bodysuits?

  • Treasure Chest

    I think that it is sad when individuals that are put in positions of authority use it to prey on the weak, confused and impressionable. This man was a key figure in Atlanta and had the potential of inspiring individuals to greatness but instead he has possibly destroyed the emotional and physical lives of these young men. No one is necessarily saying that these men did not agree to these acts, but under what circumstances? When I was young, I too was very impressionable with those that I admire, too. I really hope that the REAL truth comes out.

  • ray

    Where is the Justice department

  • http://creambmp.com Diary of a Young Black Asshole

    IF this Bishop Eddile Long shit true..He getting a first class flight to hell…sponsored by the Devil

  • SMJ

    If it is okay with New Birth members and staff for their pastor to walk around the church in a muscle shirt and biker shorts (that incidentally show the entire outline of his package) then they deserve to be sued and ridiculed. If you’re supposedly mentoring young men, you would be leading by example and showing these young men that proper business attire DOES NOT include muscle shirts and biker shorts. We’re supposed to be teaching young men to remove their hats indoors, hold doors for women, wear suits and ties when conducting business. I wouldn’t dare disrespect God by going into his house dressed in this way. Long’s attorney is a buffoon for issuing such a careless comment. OUTRAGEOUS.

  • Gigi

    Let’s not get religious and be confused between justice and grace. My prayers go to Bishop. If he’s innocent, may God be with him on his greatest trial. If he’s guilty, may he seek forgiveness to the most High.

  • Laci Mack

    What’s done in the dark will always come to light. no one on this earth live nor walk a perfect life except for Jesus Christ, so why everyone thinks he’s some kind of GOD just blows my mind. I completely agree with the young men because Pastor’s and Bishop whatever you’re calling yourself now days has that GOD like power to think they can’t be touched. It upsets me that these holy than thou Christians can’t admit that there is a problem and that all of those Ministers should be held accountable for their action. Bishop you disgust me because you’re on the fronline denouncing gay people when infact the very people you’re disrespecting you’re out there seeking relationship with them your Preaching and Teaching is not in line with your life style. I dare those that want to continue to believe in a liar, because that’s what he is, come on you so call Christians this is another Ted Haggar story. I would respect him better if he just ADMIT to his wrong doing. Now when the egg hits you in the face then everyone is going to be MAD, but let me say this more boys are going to come forth so are you so call Christians are going to call them liar’s too “Stop the madness” because it’s causes those of us who truly believes in GOD to think differently of each of you. the Bible say that we’re to Love one another when infact that’s not happening. Jesus didn’t turn his back on us, he died for our sins when he didn’t even have too. Bishop Long! GOD sees and knows all so if people are to have faith in you then simply tell the truth for it’ll trully set you free. Standup and admit your wrong, don’t standup at the pulpit and continue to lie for you’re doing nothing but further hurting those that believe in you. you really need to be tested for HIV how dare you to see with me then go home and sleep with your wife. I see men doing this all the time and I can really tell you Christians allot about your down low men. Yes I am gay and I’m proud to be a Christian and I have allot of male friends who sleep with married men and then they go home to their wife it’s just nasty to me to see that happening and at times I wish I knew their information because I would definitely be calling their home and telling everything I know. I did it once before and that woman thanked me for it. I didn’t wake up and decide to become gay I felt this way ! the tender age of 5 yr’s old. not every gay persome sleep around with mulitple partner’s I respect my body too much for that. I’m proud to call myself a GAY woman. Bishop it’ll be easier to admit then to keep denying. when I see a Ministry going out of his way to denouncing gay marriage or gay anything immeditately they’re the ones in the closet. the gay community for along time already knew you were doing something wrong but couln’t put our hands on exactly or with whom now you have been caught…as I have said “whats done in the dark will surely come to light” Bishop Long you are GOD! you do make mistakes just admit it please

  • Zakiyyah

    He doesn’t represent a man of the cloth
    He looks like a street walker

  • Tiffiny Brooks

    My heart is very heavy for bishop and his congregation and all that r affiliated with him. God is able and we must look to him for answers. Instead of attacking the situation Please Pray. We struggle not against flesh and blood but against powered of wickedness . People do lie!

  • True

    SMJ’s comments are on point. I totally agree!!

  • Wisdom

    Why is so many people always jumping to conclusion? AR they even aware that one of the young men were arrested the week before for burglary? What is wrong with people? Does someone have to go to school to at least think of that? Everybody, ” oh this is crazy, this and that? Why are people so slow and inconsiderate and always look at one side.
    I am not surprise at what is happening. He has helped too many people and who knows There is a possibility for GAY group or these Thieves to say I’m going to make you pay, and that is hope for big money. The real truth shall prevail. In the mean time people get a life! What is I say I know you and to go to the police and say that you are a thief, and go public with it. Well I know based on most of your comments you are not intellectual or big enough for anyone to go after you. Let’s just say you were a target. You r name will be dragged in the mud before the truth surface. So before you come to conclusion and sitting on your high derriere and judging without considering other possibility that people are stinking mean and will do anything for mean SHUT UP!! and Pray that in your lifetime , you do not find yourself in a situation like this!!!!..

  • leroy

    i think is WIFE should go to her doctor and get an HIV test

  • Leen

    I’m praying for every party and that the true comes out. God is a forgiving God and we as the people have no right to cast or throw a stone and because it could easily be us. Have a quiet Spirit about it and just pray because God is the judge and he doesn’t need any of our help. He’s innocent until proven guilty.

  • Tanya

    Man hopefully this isn’t true!!! God reveals alot ppl!!!

  • john miller

    where there is smoke there is fire………something improper definitely went on……..there can be no doubt!!!!!!!

  • Sandra LaVenchi

    I agree with RentlessAaron that Eddie Long has spreaded his bad seed far and wide and now God is bringing his dirt to the light. As a writer, I’ve written novels similar to this story and it’s an epidemic that has always been a reality in the dark. I myself was once a member at this church and left because it was too entertaining and less preaching. Now just happens, believe me this was exposed for a reason.

  • Asia

    MMMMM!!! Bishop you lookn good dont hate congratualate!!!!

  • john miller

    she is living a cushy life………….although she knows the truth she will back him…..make no mistake she knows…….he probably has not touched her in years

  • Smitty

    @relentlessaaron:

    Excellent. 100% in agreement. As a therapist myself – he has scarred these young men for life. A Con Artist, a fraud, a scam artist on the Down Load and behind the mask as a Paster. Living the life of the Rich and Famous and screwing up innocent young mens lives. You will ROT in Hell for being a fake Paster on the down Load. Poor innocent wife and children who had no clue about his scandalous ways and then he has the audacity to protest against gay rights. The damage you have caused is no different from the Priets in the Catholic church and the pedophile down the street. You sick bastard.

  • Smitty

    @Wisdom:

    no one will cast such a disparaging accusation if there were no validity to it. Traumatize ppl do all types of things. Just becus he burgarized a conveyance does not mean he is lying. Why would a pastor send such pics to four young boys? There are more allegations coming forth and why are they coming forth….for the fun of it. Come on get you head out of the clouds. Where there is Smoke there is Fire. Not only has he damged these boys, he manipulates his congregation every week and they contribute to his LAVISH lifestyle. Wake up ppl. He has done more for himself than he has for his congregation. Stay tuned….the dirt comes out in the wash.

  • SMJ

    To Wisdom: Who do you think you are that you can tell everyone to “get a life” for speaking our minds when you are doing the very same thing in support of Bishop Eddie Wrong. I think we are all intelligent enough to figure out that no one will truly know what went on behind closed doors other than the Bishop, the young men, and God. What we are saying is that irrespective of the sex allegations, there is enough (irrefutable) damaging evidence that has come out that the Bishop and New Birth should be ashamed of. There is no good excuse for a Pastor, Ph.D., man in his 50′s to be sending photos of himself in biker shorts to teenaged boys. Furthermore, what grown a–’ed man would model biker shorts in 2010? If you think that is okay, then you need to get life!

  • SMJ

    @Smitty: AGREED!

  • SMJ

    @Wisdom: We are aware of the burglary arrest. That is old news. Are you aware of the reason for the burglary? The two kids found out that they weren’t the Bishop’s only lover and they were pissed. Did you ever ask yourself how they knew exactly where to go and find the jewlery etc.? The burglary actually supports some of their statements about the expensive gifts.

    Since you want to condemn these boys for their petty crime. Maybe I should inform you that immediately prior to getting involved with the church, Bishop Eddie Wrong WAS FIRED FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS AND WRONGFUL USE OF HIS EXPENSE ACCOUNT. He’s lucky the company didn’t pursue felony charges against him. He got into the ministry because it was the only job he could get that didn’t do an employment background check. Don’t even get me started!

    I don’t appreciate you calling the bloggers on this site “slow and inconsiderate” for being on the opposite side of your view. I’m on this site because it is one of the VERY FEW that seem to show some support and compassion for the alleged victims. Bishop has millions of supporters to go along with that 3 million dollar salary. By the way, you’re crediting the wrong person for “doing so much” charity for others. It is the money that comes out of the pockets of the members that is doing all of the charity. Recognize that Bishop Wrong is nothing without the tithes and offerings.

  • Samantha

    SMJ the burglary only proves they are out for money. If they found out he had other lovers why not file a lawsuit then? They chose to steal and got caught and the lawsuit is their way out. They are money hungry that is what the whole Law suit is about. Based on what your saying they were concentual lovers who while in jealous rage commited an illegal act. No matter how you slice it the young men still aren’t being 100% truthful. I can break into a building and no one need to tell me where to find the loot. Come one give me a break this man is innocent until proven guilty. Just because he took pictures in a muscle shirt he’s gay? So that mean most of the men in America’s gay because it looks like every man in America is standing up in the bathroom with their cellphone taking body pictures with and without closes. Give me a break.

  • nicole

    why would you taking pictures like that and who did u send them too they are not of ou and your wife what made you take pictures like that and why woulod you send them to someone else

  • SODOM AND GOMMORAH IS THE CITY OF ATLANTA

    It ain’t never been cute to have gay choir directors or gay preacher women behind the pulpit. This kind of sickness in the Church should have been condemned along time ago in the Black Church. You bring the gay popluation into the Black Church, notto convert but to be accepted for their lifestyle and you mix that with single Black mothers bringing their son’s to this supposedly God-filled place amongst homosexuals and this is what you’ll get – new birth accusations. It does not matter to me if Mr. Long is guilty of sending those pictures or whatever or not to me, I ain’t never going to that city of Sodom and Gommorah called “Atlanta”, God is going to uncover all of the homosexuality going on in the city of Sodom and Gommorah, the Black gay capitol – Atlanta, GA and he’s going to show all of homosexuality going on in the Black Church. Those who control “the media” and are the lawyers, if you notice are always the one’s bring forth the charges and are getting paid off of these cases, in case you have noticed. GOD IS TELLING THE BLACK WOMEN TO GET THE HELL OUT OF SODOM AND GET MARRRIED AND RAISE YOUR KIDS WITH HUSBANDS. STOP RELYING ON THE CHURCH, HIP-HOP, AND PRSION TO RAISE YOUR DAMN KIDS. THE BLACK WOMEN KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE CHURCHES, THEY SHOULD ALL BE GOING TO HELL RIGHT ALONG WITH ALL THE SINNERS OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA AND NEW BIRTH OR WHOEVER’S SINNING IN HOMOSEXUALITY AND IS A PART OF A BLACK CHURCH.

  • Micayla cole

    Yess sir. he’s a fag,,he gott sum frooty patotie in his suger tank! ahah:-)

  • shanell

    Wisdom

  • Ronald R Legree Senior

    What is wrong with wearing speedo, workout cloth which is sold in stores, nothing wrong with him admiring how well he has kept his body in shape by exercising something that alot of Black Americans don’t do much more because he or she to busy worrying about others lifestyle which don’t put money you either pocket. Beside, kids don’t get proper exercise in school anyway nor proper nuturition either. Beside, those guys were after money and it does not matter how he gets it alone with the lawyer. Who is to say that when one broke into the church office to steal that he did not send those pictures to his cell phone. Morals….Right… [ Judge NOT and be NOT Judged.]
    Jesus died for all ours sins. Black people get a LIFE and not this tearing one another down.

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