Jimmy Swaggart scandal: 1988 prostitution controversy explained
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Jimmy Swaggart, a once-prominent televangelist whose passionate sermons were overshadowed by a series of sex scandals in the late 1980s and early 1990s, has died. He was 90.
Swaggart passed away Tuesday morning in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he had lived and led Jimmy Swaggart Ministries for decades. The ministry announced his death on social media. No cause of death was immediately provided.
The New York Times reported that Swaggart had been placed in intensive care at a hospital after suffering a heart attack.
Who Was Jimmy Swaggart?
Swaggart rose to prominence in the 1980s as an influential figure in American Pentecostalism. At his peak, his televised services reached millions in the United States and around the world.
Born in Ferriday, Louisiana, in 1935, Swaggart was the first cousin of rock legend Jerry Lee Lewis. Ordained by the Assemblies of God in 1961, Swaggart launched a ministry that eventually exploded in scope thanks to radio and television broadcasts.
Per ABC News, Swaggart's ministry earned over $142 million in 1986. He maintained a global media presence, with his broadcasts appearing on roughly 200 TV stations at their peak.
On Tuesday, the operator of Swaggart's official Instagram page wrote: "He was not just a preacher- he was a worshiper, a warrior, and a witness to the grace and mercy of God. He was a man whose faith was steadfast and always entered whatever door the Lord opened."
The post thanked the doctors and nurses at Baton Rouge General Medical Center, where he was receiving treatment.
Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart preaching in Nicaragua in 1988.
Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart preaching in Nicaragua in 1988.Jimmy Swaggart Controversy Explained
In 1988, reports surfaced that Swaggart had been involved with a prostitute in New Orleans. The BBC reported that Swaggart resigned from his position during a public confession in front of a congregation of over 7,000 people.
"I have sinned against you," Swaggart said at the time. "I beg you to forgive me."
The clip of his speech became a recognizable moment in American religious broadcasting.
Sex worker Debra Murphree, who was photographed with Swaggart, said in a later interview that the preacher paid her to pose nude.
His troubles didn't end there. In 1991, Swaggart was stopped by police in California for driving on the wrong side of the road with a prostitute. Rather than confessing to prostitution, he instead told his Baton Rouge congregation: "The Lord told me it's flat none of your business," per The New York Times.
Despite these scandals, Swaggart never relinquished control of his ministry, although he did restructure operations under his family's leadership.
Jimmy Swaggart's Funeral Service: What We Know
Information on the preacher's funeral service was not immediately available. Details regarding the time, location, and whether any public services will be held have not been announced yet.
Swaggart is survived by his wife, Frances, their son Donnie, and several grandchildren.
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