Bryant, 41, had taken the magazine to task in an open letter and said that “a hole” had been left in his heart after the rumor was published in the “Scandalous!” section of Ebony’s March 2013 issue, which hit newsstands earlier this month.
“Thankfully Ebony magazine expressed a verbal apology as well as a written statement of clarification – which Dr. Bryant has accepted,” Nicole S. Kirby, Pastor Bryant’s public relations director, shared on Monday with The Christian Post.
Ebony’s March 2013 issue, which features “Scandal” star Kerry Washington on the cover, stated in its paragraph-long brief that the “charismatic, flashy pastor” was accused of extramarital affairs, “including one rumor that he impregnated a 17-year-old church member.” The publication noted that Bryant’s wife at the time, Gizelle, filed for divorce in 2008 after nearly six years of marriage. The couple share three children, while Bryant has another child previous to his marriage.
Pastor Bryant chastised the publication in an open letter shared online Friday.
“For 67 years Ebony Magazine has been the drum beat for culture in the African American community. John Johnson its beloved founder dedicated his life to safe guarding our image with great integrity,” said Bryant in the letter titled “PASTOR JAMAL BRYANT REBUKES EBONY.”
“On page 124 they published that it’s alleged I impregnated a 17-year-old member of my church. This accusation is categorically and completely untrue. To publish this with absolutely no source lends itself to reckless endangerment to my children, my congregation and my community. Ebony is not the National Enquirer. A higher standard is required and the statement jeopardizes my ministry to the youth in my church and community,” the Maryland pastor added.
Within 24 hours of Bryan’ts open rebuke, Ebony admitted in an online statement that it “published the outrageous allegation as it was scandalous, not because it was confirmed.
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Dean
February 27, 2013 at 2:06 PM
Huuum; will this hurt Ebony’s reputation??? I think so, people tend to believe what they read. Especially when it’s written in a Magazine like Ebony, that has been around for decades.
lisa
February 27, 2013 at 5:31 PM
You would think stories are checked and double checked before theyare published shame on u Ebony
Barbara Bender
February 28, 2013 at 9:04 AM
I would have given Ebony waaaaay more credit than that. But in this day and time, whatever sells is what they are now putting out. I pray that there IS no truthh to this accusation and the Ebony has learned a lesson from this.
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March 1, 2013 at 8:26 PM
They do not want to end their marriage, they love their family.
This counts especially if the decision is to settle the ties in a professional manner and is an operative solution to prevent unnecessary uproar.
If you’re having an affair with a friend or your husband’s
friend, the risk of getting discovered is pretty high.
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