By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-20 13:23:55 | Updated at 2024-11-20 15:25:54
2 hours ago
Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker's son thinks his mother would be shocked that Donald Trump become president of the US given how harshly her family was judged by evangelicals.
Jay Bakker, 48, said the 1980s televangelist would be surprised that conservatives have embraced Trump after his criminal convictions and history of alleged extramarital affairs, because they were not so forgiving of his televangelist parents after his father's financial misdeeds were revealed.
'I think she would be shocked,' Bakker told DailyMail.com on Friday. 'I think it also would be shocking to her because of how vilified my parents were, and now everybody, all the evangelicals are like, "oh, no, it's fine."
'I think that would be mind-boggling.... I don't know if my mom was really made for this world after she left.'
Tammy Faye's shock would also extend to today's Democrats, as she would not approve of how strict with their beliefs they have become, Jay added.
'I don't think she would recognize even the progressive part of the world where people are so black and white with things.. my mom just wanted to love people,' he said.
While the late Tammy Fay may not have approved of today's GOP, 83-year-old Jim Bakker has become a huge supporter of Trump, who he often praises on his show where he preaches about the end of times.
Jay told DailyMail.com that Bakker's controversial positions have put a wedge in their relationship.
Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker's son Jay Bakker thinks she should be shocked that Donald Trump became president of the US
Jay told DailyMail.com that his father Jim Bakker's controversial positions have put a wedge in their relationship. He is seen with Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker
'I think she would be shocked,' Bakker told DailyMail.com about Tammy Faye's likely opinion of Donald trump becoming president. 'I think it also would be shocking to her because of how vilified my parents were, and now everybody, all the evangelicals are like, "oh, no, it's fine"'
'I do not have a relationship with my dad. We haven't talked for a while,' he said on Friday.
'He's... I don't even know how to explain it, so we just don't have a relationship anymore.'
Jay, however, does keep in contact with his older sister Tammy Sue.
'Me and my sister, we're friends forever and she's wonderful and she just likes to live her life privately,' he added.
Back in the 1980s, Tammy Faye, who died in 2007 at 65, electrified congregations with her elaborately coiffed hair and outlandish fluttery eyelashes.
But unlike many televangelists of the time, she was kind to gay people and AIDS sufferers, making her a camp hero to many in the LGBT community.
Her story is told in the new Broadway show produced by Elton John, Tammy Faye: The Musical. The show premiered this month but will close in December after it struggled to sell tickets.
Bakker shared that Elton has been like a grandfather figure to him, and took great care in retelling Tammy Faye's complex story.
'He's always just checking in on me and like, "are you happy? Are you OK?" Bakker shared of the megastar musician, adding that he also enjoys a close friendship with his husband, David Furnish.
'I do not have a relationship with my dad. We haven't talked for a while,' Jay Bakker said of his father Jim Bakker
Tammy Faye Bakker holds the arm of her son Jamie Bakker as they walk to the prison in Rochester, Minnesota, to visit her husband, former televangelist Jim Bakker, in 1989
Bakker continued: 'We're really close and Elton's always just kind of the grandparent checking on you, making sure you're happy, making sure the play is right and he has just such a reverence and love for my mom...
'Just every time he sees me, he grabs me and hugs me. So it's really surreal, too, because it's, you know, Elton John.'
Before their downfall, Tammy Faye and Bakker were said to live in tasteless opulence. Their dogs had air-conditioned kennels, and the couple held a wedding ceremony for Tammy's Yorkshire terrier and poodle.
The Bakkers got their start by appearing on Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network in 1966, before branching out on their own to launch the PTL Satellite Network in 1974.
Their fame and following grew over the next decade until 1986, when PTL reported staggering proceeds of $129 million.
The former couple's evangelical empire included bestselling books, music, and a Christian theme park called Heritage USA.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Bakker shared that Elton has been like a grandfather figure to him, and took great care in retelling Tammy Faye's complex story. They are seen at the Thursday premiere of the new Broadway musical, Tammy Faye
Things came crashing down after a string of scandals, which included everything from misappropriating church funds to paying PTL secretary Jessica Hahn $279,000 in 'hush money' following an alleged sexual encounter.
The couple divorced after Jim was indicted on mail fraud and wire fraud in 1988 and sentenced to 45 years in prison. He was freed after serving five years following a successful sentence-reduction hearing.
Tammy Faye went onto marry construction boss Roe Messner, taking his surname. The couple remained happily married until her death from cancer in 2007.
