Andrew Caldwell has become a viral sensation ever since a video of him attending the annual Church of God in Christ convention in St. Louis started making its rounds on the Internet. Caldwell, dressed in his Sunday’s best, was seen in the video having the gay prayed away by COGIC Superintendent Earl Carter. After being surrounded by several ministers, Caldwell gives his testimony, which ended with his saying he’s no longer gay and “likes women, women, women.” Bishop Brandon Porter of Memphis, Tenn., also gave Caldwell a $100 bill after his testimony.
But exactly how much of Caldwell’s story is true?
In a recent interview with Church Folk Revolution Radio, Caldwell says he hasn’t been gay for over a year.
“Well I was delivered for a year. I was raised up all my life in Baptist churches. I was sitting there and I began to sweat. I began to start crying. The Lord gave me a vision while my eyes was open that, if you continue to walk in this, if you continue to be like this, if you continue to act like this, I was going to die, have a heart attack and die. I said, ‘Lord, I’m not ready to die. I still have works to do. Souls out here that need to be saved.’ Well, He said, ‘How can souls be saved and you’re not saved?’ It’s been a year since I’ve been delivered. I have no taste for a man. I have a taste for a woman,” Caldwell stated.
One definitely has to wonder what the pomp and circumstance surrounding Caldwell stating he was delivered last Saturday was for? Was it actually a stunt and did Caldwell use it as an opportunity to go viral?
In his interview, Caldwell did say that he always wanted to be famous, so maybe that was his way of achieving his goal.
“I always wanted to be famous. I always wanted that. In life, I always wanted to be the top person. That video was not me trying to be famous. That video was not planned. I did not know I was going to get that mic. When I walked up there, I was walking up there, chains bound. I was walking up there, not knowing that I had more hope to myself. I needed prayer and I got the prayer,” Caldwell admitted.
But there’s one person who recently had the opportunity to interview Caldwell, and he’s calling his bluff.
“Well, my conclusion is he’s a con artist, he’s a scam artist,” says online talk show host Thaddeus Matthews. According to Matthews, who interviewed Caldwell Tuesday, things about him do not add up.
"He says that he’s going to medical school online,” said Matthews. “Where do you go to medical school at, online?”
Since going viral, Caldwell’s Facebook page had received a lot of attention and he used it to market himself as an Amazon author, but as of Friday morning, his page has been deleted.
Who knows if Caldwell’s story is true, or an attempt to go viral? Before his page was deleted, The Root reached out to get his side of the story, and although the emails were read, he did not respond.