The evangelical Christian organization formerly known as “Evangelicals for Harris,” now operating under the name “Evangelicals for America,” has issued a public apology for using footage of the late Rev. Billy Graham in political advertisements supporting former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign. The group acknowledged that it did not secure permission from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) before incorporating the clips into their ads.

Unauthorized Use of Billy Graham’s Image

In a statement shared on social media, Evangelicals for America explained that their campaign, “Evangelicals for Harris,” produced several ads featuring clips of Rev. Billy Graham. They believed their use of these clips fell under Fair Use as defined by the US Copyright Act, despite not obtaining prior consent from the BGEA. However, the BGEA objected, asserting that the group’s actions constituted copyright infringement by using Graham’s image for political purposes without authorization.

Reaction from Franklin Graham

Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and president of both Samaritan’s Purse and the BGEA, publicly criticized the ads. He accused the group of misleading people by implying that his father would have supported a particular political candidate. Franklin Graham emphasized that his father appreciated conservative values and policies, suggesting that if alive today, Billy Graham’s views would remain unchanged.

Legal Dispute and Resolution

Initially, Evangelicals for America vowed to contest legal threats from the BGEA. However, they later decided to remove the ads and agreed not to use any more clips of Rev. Graham or his organization without explicit permission. In their apology, they expressed hope that their actions would clarify any confusion caused by their original ads and reaffirmed the importance of Christian dialogue in politics.

Financial and Political Implications

The group reportedly spent over $1 million on advertisements targeting religious voters in swing states, promoting Harris’ policies as more aligned with Christian values than those of Donald Trump. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within evangelical circles regarding political endorsements and the ethical use of religious figures in political campaigns.

The BGEA expressed satisfaction with the resolution, noting that both their original response and the group’s apology speak for themselves.