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“Eddie Long Is Defended By His Spokesperson”

The ReadyWriter

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church continues to defend its embattled Pastor, Bishop Eddie Long, who stands accused of using his excessive influence over young men in his ministry by coercing them into providing him with sexual favors in return for cash and lavish gifts.

The plaintiffs, Anthony Flagg, 21, and Maurice Robinson, 20, of DeKalb County, filed lawsuits against Long and his ministry on Tuesday.

Art Franklin, the head of public relations for New Birth Missionary Baptist Church called into the V-103 Frank and Wanda Morning show this morning to categorically deny the allegations against Long.

Franklin said the church found out about the allegations through the media. “We have not actually been served any copies of the lawsuits,” he told Frank Ski, who is a staunch supporter of Long and a longtime member of New Birth Missionary Baptist church.

Rumor has it that Franklin himself was caught up in a similar sex scandal when his wife divorced him, citing extramarital affairs — with other men.

Meanwhile, industry insiders are whispering that the allegations contained in the lawsuits are just the tip of the iceberg. “This is about to be Tiger Woods part 2,” said one source who is close to the New Birth camp.

The source said Long was often seen in the company of young boys who he wined and dined in fancy restaurants.

“These boys are older now and they are no longer getting money from the church,” said the source, indicating that more lawsuits will soon follow.

In the meantime, New Birth Ministries took down its website last night, most likely to scrub the website of pictures or other damaging info that might hurt their case.

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Published by The ReadyWriter

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125 thoughts on ““Eddie Long Is Defended By His Spokesperson””

  2. double talking in the post Tra, but ok. when i heard he took down the website, my immediate thought was so they could clean it up. unless someone out here knows different, this bj chick doesn’t have a rep of taking bs cases and shaking down defendants.

    because the allegation in itself is so damaging, you can only hope there are no facts or evidence because that is going to tear atl apart. this is going to get ugly. no good will come out of this.

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  4. I mean IDK what the big deal is? I just automatically assume most men in ATL are Gay or Bi-so these two young boys got angry becuz Long somehow cheated on them? – I mean this is stupid… His wife know’s he bi- or gay the church knows and ignores it so where’s the story???

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    1. @CoCo, the story is that people do not want to believe this. The news went in on him last night though. They showed him doing a anti-gay marriage walk, but being accused of liking men and they went to his house, the church, tried to follow him. They are on the hunt, it’s crazy.

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    3. I mean I dont mind him being exposed but I’m just like, what’s the scandal? his wife aint trippn and the church aint – do they want him to step down? See that’s the problem with religion some folks are under the wrong impression….

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    1. That’s exactly what I want to know. If this has been going on since they were 16 and now they’re 20 and 21 what was the straw that broke the camel’s back and why not spill the beans years ago? And why accept all the trips, gifts, cars, tuition? This story is a mess…

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      1. I hear you. But the case is not to say he was wrong, they consented. the objective hear is to humiliate and bring down an alleged hypocrite. that’s it. costing this man his following, his church, his marriage will be worth it.

        i dont think it’s about ‘y come forward now.’ whenever “secret” relationships go on and finally end, someone is not going to be willing to let go, and usually it’s the one without the power who loses control. in the end, the one with the power is fighting to maintain that power because the other party, who had no power initially, has nothing to lose and suddenly all the power. the two guys have nothing to lose. eddie long does.

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      4. @Zion,
        <~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Exactly, they might just be mad. Sometimes where there is smoke there is FIYAH! She might not have evidence but those boys are doing this to get back at him for something. What that something is shall remain debatable because the truth will never really come out.

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      5. @Zion,
        That’s what I’m feeling. These guys aren’t trying to hide the fact that they are gay and had some form of sexual contact with Mr. long- they’re basically stating that there was sexual contact they don’t deny that.

        -I’m just trying to figure out the real reason why they’re mad and decided to say something now? Is it because they found out about each other?? They were young when it started and are in there 20’s now and don’t deny accepting $$$, cars and trips over all this time. So what happened??

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      6. again, an example of someone without power who was jilted or cut off and snapped. when you’re dealing with someone who has nothing to lose, you should be worried. this guy also had nothing to lose, but the pastor obviously did.

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  9. A sexual coercion case without nude photos, sex texts or sex tapes does not sound like a strong case in my humble opinion. Blank stare.

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    1. @AG., Oh but it is. why? Because where there’s SMOKE…you know the rest. Sexting took down the mayor of Detroit why? because his words were followed up and confirmed by his actions. And there lies your TRAIL of proof.

      R U really an attorney or is that just your screen name?

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    2. @attorneygirl- your humble opinion is not needed, we only take the opinions of those who know what they are talking about, so keep your physco babble to your self ma’am.

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      1. 🙂 @Tamala, lmao @ “your humble opinion is not needed, we only take the opinions of those who know what they are talking about, so keep your physco babble to your self ma’am”

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  10. and where bernice king at? she’s an avid member and on his deacon board or something, right? an elder, etc??

    too too juicy of a story to not watch what happens next.

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      1. **Pastor Eddie Long’s thoughts as he enters the gym:** 😦

        “I hope that strapping young man sees me lifting these weights today and comes to ’spot’ me. I even wore my size ‘boys small’ mirdle *ahem* muscle shirt. TODAY’S MY DAY!”

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  17. – I read the lawsuits and they were disturbing (if true) but it seems like this lawyer is going all out. What lawyer in their right mind takes on a case like this, without some hard factual evidence/proof? I just don’t know. Guess we just have to wait it out and see.

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  18. This is just crazy. They could be flat out lying or they were sexing Long and when he stopped tricking them out they got made & exposed him. Either way, we will NEVER know the truth. Some are just soooo skeptical because it’s a man of the cloth, especially a black one, would never go against the word of god….AND be gay.

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    1. If you listen to Art Franklin on V103 he said the boys been in trouble before. my question for him is… if the boys was in trouble before,why rev long giving the cars,$$$ and etc???? Its so much to this story and it just started. If more boys come forth would you say they are lying tooo???I hope the truth come out.

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  21. td jakes. anyone? anyone? bueller? who was church guy that died of aids after years of posing as a reverent, but he had a hankering for young tight, tender bodied boys? cleveland?

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    2. James Cleveland was the the biggest wolf in sheep skin. He really did look like a wolf. This Eddie Long thing has some of the same elements. The only thing missing is AIDS!

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  22. OK, let’s just put it out there for what it is, because I believe the allegations – but I don’t believe that these MEN are “victims”.

    Fact: If you’re old enough to go on trips outside of the country, old enough to spend the money and accept the gifts, including but not limited to car payments (not to mention the fact that your a$$ IS old enough to get a drivers license), if you’re old enough to have sex with a man who asks you after the first time and got away without being killed, but you went back for the 20th and possible 42nd time… then you’re not a victim, you’re a hoe!

    They mentioned themselves that they enjoyed being lavished with gifts and being able to meet celebrities.

    I don’t believe for a minute that these dudes are smart enough to BE in college, but not smart enough to realize, “Heeey, wait a minute, I’m being molested!”

    They were doing what they WANTED to do and I’m not sure what precipitated this legal process, but it damn sure wasn’t because they were being “violated”.

    Does that excuse Eddie Long? No, he’s DEAD a$$ wrong, but these men were old enough to just say no – but they chose YES because they wanted the “rewards” that came with giving up young a$$ to an old man!

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    1. i think bj lawyer established consent from the start cuz she didn’t want to have her case spell BS. I think this is about bringing EL down. And depending on how much or how long he wants to drag this out, she can possibly start calling witnesses, i.e. the celebs these people claim to have met and possibly have pics with. she better book T.I. now cuz in the next few weeks, he will be busy with his own court shit.

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  25. What is going on in the black community…the church? We recently had a Pastor commit suicide in my city because his “lover” outed him to his wife (they had a child), girlfriend and the church (stood up during service). END OF DAYS!

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      1. Columbus, GA…his name was H. Randy Stephen. Our local spiritual advisers have deep pockets and roots so it never hit the media.

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    4. Lawd have mercy! I’m telling you right now if I had witnessed the lover blasting him during service I would’ve been laid OUT!!!! OMG that would’ve been the best ever! You’re right; if you google him all you’ll see is that he’s dead but nothing else.

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  26. Men of God, since the Biblical days, have always allowed their troublemakers to get them in hot doo doo, i.e. David, and man after God’s own heart, who saw Bathsheba, lusted after her, had sex with her and got her pregnant only to have her husband killed to cover up his sin.

    If the allegations of Bishop Long are true, then it will come to light. Whether the boys “consented or not” does not excuse Bishop for being messy. He was in a position of power and used it to his advantage. They were children even though they were at the age of consent when all this nonsense started. Bishop is an adult man and had major influence over them. JMO.

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  27. We should be praying about the sin in this situation not pointing fingers and given opinions, cuz our opinions don’t really count. Thank you Jesus that salvation is not based on our works. It is our faith that Jesus Christ died on the cross that saves us. It doesn’t mean that the desires of our flesh can’t get the best of us. I don’t know if this story is true or not, but I have my own sin to work out with fear and trembling to worry about someone else. I pray that IF this is true that he repents his sin and turns to Christ, cuz Christ is the only way to deliver himself from himself.

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    1. These “selective” Christians kill me. They have an opinion about everything they WANT to have an opinion about, then when it’s about something, or someone near and dear to their hearts, suddenly they want to remind YOU not to judge.

      Either walk the horse or ride it, but you can’t choose which laws in the bible you want to be governed by based upon what’s going on in your world that day.

      Ease up, Shirley SEIZURE!

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      1. @Cb, you made some extremely valid points. I’ve noticed the “don’t judge” phrase is huge among the blog community. Go figure. People judge others everyday, i.e. how they look, what they wear, or whatever. I’m not criticizing anyone directly, but that’s what goes on with blogs. If people didn’t have an opinion, people like Tracy would be out of business.

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      1. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

        Isaiah 5:20

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      2. And WOE unto them who don’t know HOW and WHEN to STFU and sit the hell down somewhere and stop SHOVING SCRIPTURES down our damn throats!

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  30. The “age of consent” is just a number. And maybe these kids were vulnerable, the type of sexual predator that this guy seems to be.

    Maybe they were seduced because they felt that he was giving them the love and attention that weren’t getting at home.

    And if it’s true that he used the bible to support/justify this deviant behavior maybe they just wanted someone, anyone to make them feel that it was okay to be gay.

    As for why now, I don’t think it matters. It sometimes takes years for victims to come forward. Maybe they were afraid of being called liars or being outed to the world.

    If what they are saying is true the only thing that matters is that it’s coming out now and this “alleged” hypocritical creep will get what he deserves.

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    1. you’re so on point. Rape victims and victims of abuse keep quiet for so long, especially if the accuser is high profile, because 9 times out of 10, the victim will be labeled a liar or somehow blamed for what happened. I’m not saying that some people don’t lie about being abused, but if they really were abused, they shouldn’t be shamed when they do press charges.

      Again, in this situation, we shall see.

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      1. I could be wrong, but I don’t think they were men when this started. Even though they were at the “age of consent” according to GA, to me they were still children and very impressionable. He took advantage of their youth. Who knows? Manipulation is a very powerful thing. Check out these female teachers having sex with their students. Again, the teacher is in a position of power. Many of those young boys, even though they understand what sex is about, still might feel pressured by the adult.

        Again, I’m going to wait for more details, but at this juncture, this is how I understand it.

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  32. All this damn time I have been scratching pennies together, I could have been throwing hundreds in the air if I attended New Birf!

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  33. I didn’t read article or comments yet. Apologize if I echo anyone else. But this here:

    his excessive influence over young men in his ministry by coercing them into providing him with sexual favors in return for cash and lavish gifts.

    That there sounds like willingly prostitution. Not coercion.

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    1. that’s how it sounds, but I think that because these boys were young and exposed to the “good life,” they got caught up in it. They were meeting celebs and had gifts lavished on them. I mean, there are adults who would give into such temptations.

      Haven’t you heard grown people say, “He/she could get it!” about a certain celeb they like or find attractive? The celeb probably could get it, and these are grown men/women who would probably have sex with a stranger they don’t know only because he is cute or has money.

      Again, if true, Bishop was in a position of power, and being a grown man, he could easily manipulate a child. That’s how I see it.

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      1. I see your point and I agree, BUT, these “boys” were men when this started and I could see if they were molested and they ran… you can’t justify going back CONTINUALLY when you had a choice.

        And even if you did it for the cash (and I ain’t mad at THAT part) I’m mad that you want to be the victim AFTER you were lavished with gifts.

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  34. BJ is a pretty legit attorney…reversing court decisions, having people wrongfully accused set free…This is gonna be a fight 🙂

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  35. Meanwhile, industry insiders are whispering that the allegations contained in the lawsuits are just the tip of the iceberg. “This is about to be Tiger Woods part 2,”

    Now thats the truth….

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  36. There are few situations where things are simply black and white. For my own reasons I’m leaning towards the boys’ side but I agree that the days to come will be revealing a whole lot of gray area and quite a bit more ugliness will probably come out on both sides of this.

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    1. I hear ya, and I’m leaning more toward the boys’ side as well, but I’m just going to sit back and watch how things unfold.

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  37. I wonder how people would feel if these boys were their young child/children being molested by a fat twirling pastor.

    Rumors have always surrounded this particular pastor. I don’t put anything past anyone. I will not condem the victim’s (young boys) regardless if they recieved gifts or not. Young minds are easily manipulated especially by influential people.

    If this man did commit acts of sex with the boys. I need him to be held accountable for his actions.

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  38. This is truely sad.. I guess Black churches cant point fingers at the priest and catholics anymore! lol

    I will reserve my opinion, but I will say that being

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  39. in a postion of a man of GOD and taking advantages of young people is completely wrong on so many levels.. not saying that I completely believe the young mens story.. I really hope justice is served!

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  40. regardless of how it plays out, its a lose-lose for the pastor.

    if he goes to court all his dirty laundry will be aired out even if he’s innocent. if he settles out of court he’ll be labeled as guilty automatically.

    hes no better than that bathroom toe tapping senator. always shouting about being gay is wrong, but secretly likes getting it in the dookie shute.

    smh.

    if he wants to be gay, be gay. no one cares. he just liked the power, money and lifestyle the church could offer him and didn’t want to turn it down.

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    1. I agree. Just be who the he.ll you are

      But my thing is, there is a big market (hate to sound I’m talking about a business deal but….) for bi/homosexual churches, they want to belong somewhere too. Matter of fact a friend from college that later was married and had two kids, well I always thought she liked women but because of the family, I shook the thought off. Low and behold, 5 years after we lost contact I found HER on facebook and HER and HER GIRLFRIEND are pastors of a church in Georgia and they have a HUGE following.

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  41. When did the molestation start? I mean if it they were 16/17? I KNOW those MEN know it was wrong to have sex with the preacher. And in turn take gifts in return. Being young doesn’t make you stupid.

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  42. But on a serious note. I wish people would just be who they are and that would cut down on all this da.mn exposing. When you hide and do stuff in the dark it give people power over you.

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  43. These boi’s knew exactly what they were doing. They are sum looking for a quick come up. This is not to say he is wrong for what he did. If you are going to be against homosexuality then LIVE that life also. Dont preach against it and then later that day partake in it! I hate ppl like that. But I have learned the ones that are so quick to speak against Gay ppl and for everything Gay ppl stand and fight for, usually are DL themselves……ESPECIALLY IN ATLANTA, GA!!!!!!!!!!

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  44. BJ is the one who represented Genarlow Wilson, I think she knows what she is doing, sad situation. We are told to believe that men/women of cloth are God’s messengers. This could be a blow to a beginning believer’s faith.

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  47. What the hell is with all these men in Atlanta?? So me going there in hopes to find a “straight man” is hopeless? I have never been to Atlanta…

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  49. Being young has alot to do with it. These boys looked up to that pastor as the rest of the congragation did. He is the GOD *Snickers* of his church. How many big hat wearing members would try to castrate them. Everyone says oh they knew but who knew better, them or the pastor??

    Believe it or not, all young or 16 year olds are not fast and corrupt. Not stupid or unknowing but Nieve to an extent. Who knows if this ball-erina assured them they were in a relationship and the gift were apart of the courtship. These statements are some of the same reasons why people are less likely to press charges. Especially men who have been raped and/or beaten (the backlash). Why didn’t my mother listen when I told her? Be a parent and listen to your children is what one would tell a mother but turn around and not listen to the voice of children. Regardless of the reasoning (gifts and such). If everyone manages to force these boys to keep quite this pastor will get away with more in the future.

    Thats right boys please place the gift giving out there now so it will be a dead issue by the time you reach court. Your lawyer understands the defense will try to use the gift giving as an excuse for the alleged sexual deviant behavior of this grown pastor man. You have your opinion and I have mine. I guess everyone has to pick sides why not pick the side of a molester and throw stones at the youth. That seems to be the trend of todays world. I digress.

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    2. YES PREACH MR. Perry PREACH… 🙂

      You are barely here sometimes so i’m surprised you have more than 2 comments on this subject.

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  50. Another thing, who knows. There might be more boys with stories to tell, but they won’t come out because of the backlash these two young men have been receiving.

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  51. i’m not down with oppressing anyone at the same time. and i have a problem with churches that speak out against gays, but they have obvious flaming queens in the pullpit.

    i’ve seen them. with my own eyes. neck popping, finger snapping and all.

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  52. If YAH (JESUS) came down himself and told some of these unlearned christians that the Bishop did do this, they will hang Jesus back on the Cross and drive nails in him all over again……it’s pointless to fight with foolish behavior, I dont know if he did do it or not….but again…folks follow man and not the savior…it’s sad though…..I pray for them all….

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