Inside The Explosive Sex Scandal That Plagued Graham's Final Years
Feb. 21 2018, Updated 7:25 p.m. ET
In the years before his death, Billy Graham was faced with a sex scandal that turned his world upside down, Radaronline.com can report.
In 2015, the iconic evangelist was horrified to learn that one of his grandsons, Tullian Tchividjian, had been caught in a cheating triangle. While Tchividjian admitted to cheating on his wife, he brought her down with him — claiming Kim cheated on him first!
"As many of you know, I returned from my trip a few months back and discovered that my wife was having an affair," Tchividjian, 45, said in a written statement. "As her affair continued, we separated. Sadly and embarrassingly, I subsequently sought comfort in a friend, and developed an inappropriate relationship myself."
Following the statement, a heartbroken Graham attempted to salvage their marriage by pleading with Tchividjian to work it out with Kim.
"Billy begged Tullian to put his family back together," a source who spoke to the National ENQUIRER said. "Tullian has three children. He said that, over time, Tullian can rise from the ashes of this moral failing — but he needs his family to do that. Sadly, Tullian told his grandfather that he didn't see any way to save his marriage."
Kim spoke out following Tchividjian's statement, seemingly denying his account of the affair by saying that was her "husband's opinions," not her own.
At the time, Graham's son Franklin had taken over the mantle of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, but Tchividjian "was seen as a rising star by Billy," the source said.
Graham gave him a second chance by offering him a staff position at a church in the town of Winter Springs, Florida. But he quickly lost that position and his career was tarnished for good after Tchividjian tragically admitted to a second extramarital affair as pastor at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale in Florida.
The day prior to his grandfather's death, he tweeted, "More than anything else, baptizing babies is what I miss most about being a pastor."
Graham passed away Wednesday morning at the age of 99.
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