Reporter dragged away after confronting televangelist: ‘Why do you need a $54 million jet?’

An Inside Edition report is getting a lot of attention after it focused on the luxurious lifestyles of prominent Christian televangelists Jesse Duplantis and Kenneth Copeland, who, according to the report, “drive fancy cars and live inside lavish mansions” and “fly in some of the best private jets money can buy.”

The report says a 1-hour trip from Fort Worth, Texas to New Orleans in Duplantis’ Dassault Falcon 50 jet, which is paid for by his church’s membership, costs around $14,000. A commercial flight of the same distance would cost only $140.

Inside Edition Chief Investigative Correspondent Lisa Guerrero attempted to question Duplantis about his need for a jet, but she was quickly grabbed and pulled away by security.

“Hi, I’m from Inside Edition,” Guerrero said as she approached Duplantis during a book signing. “I’d love for you to set the record straight, sir — why do you need a $54 million jet?”

“We’re not doing any kind of interviews now, I’m in a book signing,” he replied.

It was at that point she was accosted by security officials and whisked away.

“I’d just like to know why you need…” she said as security grabbed her. “Keep your hands off of me! Do not touch me! Why are you people touching me like this?”

During a service the day after the incident, Duplantis joked about the scuffle.

“I heard her holler,” he said. “I came back and said, ‘What did you do with her?’ [The security guard] said, ‘I made her Outside Edition.'”

In December of 2015, Duplantis and Copeland went viral after a clip featuring the pair explaining why they need private jets as opposed to flying commercial made the rounds. In the clip, Duplantis describes a conversation he had with God while riding in his jet, to which Copeland interjected, “You couldn’t have done that on an airliner.”

“That’s why we’re on that airplane,” Copeland continued, adding that the only way they can coherently talk to God is within the sanctuary of a private jet.

Watch Inside Edition’s report below:

Featured image: screen grab

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.