Grahams differ on upcoming film

Evangelist Franklin Graham and his sister Gigi Graham have aired differences over the upcoming film about their father, “Billy: The Early Years.” Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, issued a statement declaring that the movie is not endorsed by the BGEA. “While the movie covers many aspects of my father’s early years, […]

Evangelist Franklin Graham and his sister Gigi Graham have aired differences over the upcoming film about their father, “Billy: The Early Years.”

Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, issued a statement declaring that the movie is not endorsed by the BGEA.

“While the movie covers many aspects of my father’s early years, it depicts events that never happened or are greatly embellished,” he said.


ChristianityToday.com reports that Gigi Graham, the oldest of the five children of the 89-year-old evangelist and a consultant promoting the film, doesn’t agree with her brother.

“Franklin called me and said he thought the movie was dorky. But I think it’s good and positive, and I think it honors the Lord and my mother and daddy,” she told CT.com. “I don’t know why Franklin felt like he had to make a public statement. I wish he’d just left it alone.”

The Charlotte Observer quoted Franklin Graham spokesman Mark DeMoss citing examples of concern that “producers would refer to as creative license,” such as a scene when a young Billy Graham faints upon learning his wife has given birth to Gigi when in reality he was not at the hospital but away preaching at the time.

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