Unraveling the Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau Scandal: Beyond Sexual Abuse to a Life in the Shadows
Mary Kay Letourneau's notorious affair with her sixth-grade student, Vili Fualaau, shocked the world in 1996 This article delves into the scandal, its aftermath, their relationship, their statements, and what became of both Mary Kay and Vili Discover why this scandal has recently resurfaced, and stay tuned for an enticing Deal of the Day
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Mary Kay Letourneau‘s infamous affair with her student Vili Fualaau made headlines in the ’90s — and the scandal has continued to grip the nation.
In 1996, Letourneau's personal life gained attention due to her affair with Fualaau, a sixth-grade student at the time. She pleaded guilty in 1997 to two counts of felony second-degree rape of a child and served three months in jail. Despite being ordered not to by the court, Letourneau continued to stay in touch with Fualaau, leading to a six-year prison sentence. After having two children together, the pair controversially married following Letourneau's release. They stayed together for over a decade before announcing their separation in 2019.
Explore the infamous relationship of Letourneau and Fualaau, whose attempts to keep a low profile garnered widespread interest. Their real-life tale has now been adapted into the Netflix film, May December, depicting a fictional romance between a woman and a minor, and the lasting consequences they encounter years later. Scroll down for more on the scandal and for the latest updates on Letourneau and Fualaau.
How Did the Scandal Unfold?
Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau were photographed at her beach front home in Normandy Park, Washington on April 27, 2006. The two met when Letourneau was Fualaau's second-grade teacher in Burien, Washington. Letourneau, who was married with four children, was caught spending time with Fualaau, then 12, outside of school. She was arrested in March 1997 and pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree child rape. Later that year, Mary Kay gave birth to her first child with Fualaau, a daughter named Audrey.
After being sentenced to six months in prison and three years of sex offender treatment for the rape case, Mary Kay was released halfway through her sentence. She was then ordered to stay away from Fualaau. However, she was caught in a car with him two weeks after her release, resulting in her original prison sentence of seven and a half years being reinstated.
During her second prison term, Mary Kay gave birth to her second daughter with Fualaau, named Georgia, in October 1998.
What Happened After Mary Kay’s Prison Sentence?
Following the scandal, Fualaau left high school and his mother was granted custody of his two children with Mary Kay. Once Fualaau turned 18, he requested the court to lift the no-contact order against Mary Kay, and they began a relationship. (Meanwhile, Mary Kay had to register as a level 2 sex offender.)
Fualaau and Mary Kay cowrote the 1998 book Un Seul Crime, L’Amour (Only One Crime, Love), which covered their individual accounts of their relationship.
Did Mary Kay and Vili Remain in a Relationship?
They got married in May 2005 and focused on raising their two daughters away from the public eye. Fualaau initially filed for separation in May 2017 after 12 years of marriage, but later decided to withdraw the filing. Their legal separation was finalized in 2019.
What Did Mary Kay Say About the Controversial Relationship?
In a 2015 joint interview with Barbara Walters, Mary Kay was asked about her feelings of guilt or disgust for her abuse of Fualaau. Her response was, "I loved him very much, and I kind of thought, 'Why can't it ever just be a kiss?' The incident was a late night, and it didn't stop with a kiss. And I thought that it would, and it didn't."
What Happened to Mary Kay?
Fualaau, on the other hand, remembered his mental health deteriorating during the scandal. "I'm amazed that I'm still here today. I went through a really difficult period," he commented on the lack of a support system when Mary Kay gave birth to their children while in prison.
In 2020, Mary Kay tragically lost her battle with colorectal cancer at the age of 58.
"Mary showed incredible strength in facing this disease," her family expressed in a statement. "We found solace and unity in having our family come together to support her during this difficult time. We worked together to take care of Mary and each other, staying by her side every step of the way."
What Happened to Vili?
During a 2020 appearance on The Dr. Oz Show, Fualaau discussed Mary Kay’s inappropriate behavior towards him. He stated, “I couldn’t look at a 13-year-old and be attracted to that because it’s just not in my brain. It’s nothing that I’m attracted to. I mean, we all have our preferences, and that’s just not something that I would go towards.” When asked what he would do if he was attracted to a minor, he replied, “I’d probably go and seek some help.”
Fualaau and Mary Kay's daughter Georgia announced in March 2022 that her father has welcomed a third child. In an Instagram post with a photo of the newborn, she expressed her excitement to be a big sister and pledged to always be by the baby's side. The identity of the baby's mother has been kept private since the news was revealed.
Why Has the Scandal Made Headlines Again?
In August 2023, Fualaau and Mary Kay’s eldest, Audrey, made the announcement that Georgia was expecting her first child. One month later, Georgia confirmed to People that she was pregnant with a baby boy. She also shared details about her six-year relationship with the child’s father, but made the decision to keep him out of the spotlight.
Courtesy of Netflix
Letourneau’s case of sexual assault and her subsequent relationship with Fualaau served as the inspiration for Todd Haynes‘ critically-acclaimed film May December. The movie features Natalie Portman as Elizabeth, an actress who embarks on a journey to study the life of Gracie (Julianne Moore), whom she is set to portray in an upcoming project. The film focuses on Gracie’s scandalous romance with Joe (Charles Melton), who is 23 years her junior.
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“I found myself really appreciating the uniqueness of [screenwriter] Samy [Burch]’s script compared to some of the well-known tabloid stories like Mary Kay Letourneau. I was specifically searching for cinematic equivalents because the script leaves you unsure about what to think about these characters,” Haynes stated to The Hollywood Reporter in May 2023. “The trust you initially place in Elizabeth, portrayed by Natalie Portman, starts to waver as the story unfolds. It keeps you constantly reevaluating.”
He added, “So, I was more interested in figuring out how to tell this story in a way that makes all these different interpretations enjoyable and allows the audience to feel like they are navigating through a fun film.”
