Bishop Eddie Long's Accusers To Publish Book
The four men who accused Bishop Eddie Long of sexual coercion said Monday they will publish a book on how the megachurch pastor affected their lives.
Long, 63, died of stomach cancer Sunday.
Jamal Parris, Spencer LeGrande, Maurice Robinson and Anthony Flagg filed suit in 2010 against Long, senior pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, accusing him of making sexual advances and other acts when they were just teenagers. A fifth accuser, Centino Kemp, came forward later. Long denied the allegations but settled the suit in 2011.
The men have made no comment on Long’s death, telling the Atlanta Journal-Constitution they will let their book, “Foursaken,” speak for them.
"As much as we’d like to make a statement about the passing of Bishop Eddie Long, we’ve all decided to remain silent, for now," the group said in a statement. "We’re all brothers in this. Our perspectives will be addressed in our book, ‘Foursaken,’ which we hope to release soon."
LeGrande said he met Long when he was just 15. He told the Journal-Constitution in a 2011 interview Long filled the void in his life left by his father, who abandoned him when he was just learning to crawl.
Parris told the newspaper his father was abusive and mostly absent.
Both men were 17 when they allege Long made his move.
Though Long never addressed the allegations directly, he said in a sermon earlier this year he had considered suicide.
“I had a moment. … I had a moment. … I wanted to kill myself and was ready,” Long said, thanking his family and congregants for loving him and not judging him.
“Even though we don’t know the details right now, Bishop Long wouldn’t leave us in a lurch,” longtime church member Lela Brooks said. “His legacy will live on. He did a lot of good and we won’t let that fade.”
Long’s memorial service is set for Jan. 25, the church said Monday.
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