Reality TV Preacher Faces Backlash For Choosing First Class, Leaving Wife In Coach

During the Preachers Wedding Edition reunion, Bishop Ron Gibson stirred controversy when he said his wife would sit alone in coach if they were flying together and offered only one first-class seat.

Reality TV fans might remember Bishop Gibson from his stint on Oxygen’s Preachers of L.A., which aired in 2013 and ran for two seasons. The cast was recently picked up by MergeTV, and the outlet aired a season of Preachers Wedding Edition that updated viewers on the subjects’ lives. During the Preachers: Reunion, which aired in April 2024, Bishop Gibson made his opinionated remarks clear about sending his wife to coach.

Castmate Bishop Noel Jones asked how Bishop Gibson would handle the debatable situation. Then, Bishop Gibson, 69, sat up and said, “Brother, if I was on a desert island, and it wasn’t nothing but a box of peanuts, do you think I’m giving her a whole box of peanuts?”

“She don’t mind coach. [But] I do,” continued Bishop Gibson, who leads Life Church of God in Christ in Riverside, California.

“I can’t sit up there like sardines,” he added, before later alleging he has “claustrophobia” and saying, “The man was created [by God] first.”

How Did The Preachers Cast and Bishop Gibson’s Wife Respond?

Bishop Gibson’s wife, First Lady LaVette Gibson, noted that she often books for the duo to fly first class together.

Other cast members were seemingly dumbfounded and definitely in disagreement with Bishop Gibson’s perspective. Pastor and gospel musician Deitrick Haddon told Bishop Gibson that his response didn’t “exemplify Christ’s love.”

Bishop Jones’ wife, Loretta Jones, directly called out Bishop Gibson. She said, “It’s not whether she [LaVette] minds. It’s inappropriate for a man to sit in first class and put his wife in the back.”

What Did Social Media Say About Bishop Gibson’s Airport Seat Opinion?

Instagram users weighed in on Bishop Gibson’s remarks and how they came off at his wife’s expense. Several commenters noted that they were “judging” Bishop Gibson just like the male Preachers castmates in the show were.

One person wrote, “I’m definitely judging!! What happened to love your wife the way Christ love[s] the church!?” Meanwhile, another said, “Sitting in first class and putting your wife in coach is crazy. I would be embarrassed.”

Contrastingly, someone who defended Bishop Gibson said, “I have flown coach plenty of times with my husband in first class. Sometimes there’s just no d**n seats or one seat left. Flight delays and cancellations can also land you in coach. I’m always going to make sure the breadwinner and love of my life is comfortable. It’s about respect!”