The former personal trainer of Jerry Falwell Jr. has just filed a defamation suit against multinational media conglomerate Reuters for an article he published about him in 2019.
In August 2019, Reuters reported that Falwell gave Crosswhite, 23, a sprawling, multi-million dollar, 18-acre fitness center owned by Liberty University, plus an additional $ 650,000 for next to nothing in return.
Shortly after the story broke, a bizarre video of Falwell and Crosswhite began circulating online. It showed the personal trainer holding a camera in front of him while shouting to the evangelical leader to “push!” from behind as he huffed and huffed in response.
The video first appeared on Crosswhite’s Instagram page, but has since been deleted, but not before someone recorded it and posted it to YouTube.
Then came a photo of Crosswhite riding a bareback horse at Falwell’s ranch. The photo was posted on her own Instagram page, where it is still online. It includes the caption, “Check bucket list for bareback riding while swimming in the lake.”
All of this, in addition to the Reuters story, has caused many to speculate on Crosswhite and Falwell’s relationship, who, you may recall, was also at the center of a sex scandal involving his wife and their former pool boy at the time.
Does Jerry Falwell Jr. also have sex with his personal trainer, or do you think it’s more of a cuckold and / or group situation?
– Edward O’Dometer (@dometer_o) August 29, 2019
Now Crosswhite is suing Reuters, saying the report has ruined his reputation, which was “intact” before the whole world learned of his connection to the Falwells, and caused him “contempt, ridicule and public humiliation.”
According to the lawsuit, “Until Reuters released the false and defamatory statements at issue in this case, Ben enjoyed an unblemished reputation as a personal trainer and businessman.”
The lawsuit goes on to say that there was “nothing scandalous” about his relationship with the Falwells, and claims that Reuters “deliberately or recklessly conveyed a false implication” that he was “another” pool boy ” by Falwell. “
Crosswhite is asking Reuters to pay nearly $ 10 million in compensatory damages and punitive damages.
Graham Gremore is editor and editor at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
