Jerry Lee Lewis, rock ‘n’ roll pioneer, died at 87 on Friday. Just as soon as news of his death broke and eulogies flooded in, critics posted reminders that the troubled icon had also married his teenage cousin and faced allegations of abuse.
The “Great Balls of Fire” rocker’s career took a hit following his marriage to Myra Gale Brown, his first cousin once removed and the daughter of Lewis’ bassist. She was 13 at the time. Lewis was 22.
Lewis famously lied to a reporter about his young bride’s age, claiming that she was 15. After facing backlash, his tour got canceled and his rock reputation suffered a permanent stain, but he still went on to have a healthy country career.
The musician also hadn’t yet officially split from his previous wife before tying the knot with Brown. They later divorced after some 13 years of marriage, and Brown accused him of “every type of physical and mental abuse imaginable.” Lewis reportedly admitted “it was all my fault—she caught me cheating.” Years after, though, Brown classified their relationship to music journalist Alan Light as a “successful divorce.”
Lewis, who ultimately married seven times, found plenty of success even after his taboo-breaking marriage to Brown. He was was a four-time Grammy winner and inducted into the Rock & Roll and Country Music halls of fame.
In 1989, Dennis Quaid starred in Great Balls of Fire!, a film about Lewis’ life.Some estimates placed Lewis’ net worth at around $10 million.
More recently, Ethan Coen (No Country for Old Men) created an A24 documentary—sans brother Joel—about the musician, titled Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble In Mind.
Lewis undoubtedly forever changed the rock ‘n’ roll landscape, but many social media users haven’t forgotten about his problematic past.
“As the eulogies pour in, here’s a friendly reminder that Jerry Lee Lewis was an abusive pedophile who married Myra Gale Brown, his 13-year-old cousin,” wrote Twitter user @EllenFWalker. “When Brown filed for divorce, she stated that she had been ‘subject to every type of physical and mental abuse imaginable.’”
As the eulogies pour in, here’s a friendly reminder that Jerry Lee Lewis was an abusive pedophile who married Myra Gale Brown, his 13-year-old cousin. When Brown filed for divorce, she stated that she had been “subject to every type of physical and mental abuse imaginable.” pic.twitter.com/qICuFxg9FN
— Ellen Walker MA (RCA) (@EllenFWalker) October 28, 2022
“Welp, time to see how many paragraphs it takes all of his glowing obituaries to mention that Jerry Lee Lewis was a pedophile who married his 13-year-old cousin,” tweeted Bonnie Stiernberg, managing editor of lifestyle platform InsideHook.
Welp, time to see how many paragraphs it takes all of his glowing obituaries to mention that Jerry Lee Lewis was a pedophile who married his 13-year-old cousin
— Bonnie Stiernberg (@aahrealbonsters) October 28, 2022
A couple of days before Lewis’ actual death, premature and erroneous reports swirled that he had passed away.
“A pedophile isn’t dead? What a shame. Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin; he was 22. Stop celebrating sexual predators,” wrote Twitter user @DuchessSexpert on Wednesday.
A pedophile isn’t dead? What a shame. Jerry Lee Lewis married his 13 year old cousin; he was 22. Stop celebrating sexual predators. https://t.co/JfV588ZPHR
— Duchess Sexpert (@DuchessSexpert) October 26, 2022
Some have apparently anticipated this moment for a while. A couple of years ago, music writer Dan Ozzi tweeted that news of Lewis’ eventual death would elicit mixed responses.
“i don’t think we’re prepared for the discourse when jerry lee lewis goes,” Ozzi wrote on May 9, 2020. “imagining Very Online Young People learning about a man who shot his bassist, married his 13-year-old cousin, abused his 7 wives, spewed racism, and tried to kill elvis. might have to call out that day.”
i don’t think we’re prepared for the discourse when jerry lee lewis goes. imagining Very Online Young People learning about a man who shot his bassist, married his 13-year-old cousin, abused his 7 wives, spewed racism, and tried to kill elvis. might have to call out that day.
— Dan Ozzi (@danozzi) May 9, 2020
Regardless, others mourned Lewis’ passing on social media, including legendary glam-pianist Elton John.
“Without Jerry Lee Lewis, I wouldn’t have become who I am today,” John wrote in a tweet. “He was groundbreaking and exciting, and he pulverized the piano. A brilliant singer too. Thank you for your trailblazing inspiration and all the rock ‘n’ roll memories. #RIP“
Without Jerry Lee Lewis, I wouldn’t have become who I am today. He was groundbreaking and exciting, and he pulverized the piano. A brilliant singer too. Thank you for your trailblazing inspiration and all the rock ‘n’ roll memories. #RIP pic.twitter.com/HytKkIV5Qo
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) October 28, 2022
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