KELLER, Texas — More than a month after the fallout from a faith-based film crew’s visit to a Keller ISD school, the documentary series has released its episode.
On Sunday, Netherlands-based Evangelische Omroep (EO), an Evangelical broadcast television network, released its new episode of ‘God, Jesus, Trump!’
A description for the episode titled ‘Texas - War on Woke’ says its purpose is to “talk to fanatical Trump supporters, conspiracy theorists and shooting Democrats.”
The film crew’s Feb. 9 visit to Central High School sparked backlash from parents, including Laney Hawes. Then-school board trustee Sandi Walker invited the film crew into the school to interview her without district permission or parental consent. During the visit, students were interviewed and filmed for the documentary.
The newly-released documentary episode shows the moment the film crew entered the Central High School administrative building and checked in with then-trustee Walker.
“My kid was filmed,” said Hawes. “This crew was brought in under false pretenses and it was political, that’s the truth.
Hawes, who has a son in the high school, is upset that a clip of him shown from a distance was included in the documentary.
“I am disappointed with the journalistic integrity of the film crew,” Hawes said.
NOTE: The following video was uploaded on Feb. 16, 2024
In the documentary, journalist Tijs van den Brink said in the aftermath of their visit, he received a “desperate text” from Walker, who “begged” the crew not to broadcast her interview and said “all hell broke loose.” Walker then resigned from the school board. The documentary says Walker was “so traumatized by the aftermath” that they decided to honor her request not to include her interview.
“The recording at the school ignited a roller coaster,” van den Brink said in the documentary. “After the recordings, the lawyer of the school demands that we destroy all raw footage.”
Hawes told WFAA she was outraged with how the documentary turned out because it featured her son in it, and she felt the crew protected Walker by dropping her interview.
“I think that speaks volumes about what was in that interview and why she resigned,” Hawes said.
Hawes said she personally reached out to van den Brink requesting to be interviewed and featured as a parent voice in the documentary, but was told it was too late to be interviewed.
NOTE: The following video was uploaded in Feb. 18, 2024
The documentary features a Keller ISD student from Holland. In the episode, the female student discusses the way sex education in the U.S. is handled compared to Holland.
In Holland, the topic of sex is very open, the student said. She describes the topic as taboo in the U.S.
In a statement to WFAA on Monday, Keller ISD spokesperson Bryce Nieman said the district is disappointed to see the release of footage that was taken without proper approval.
"We have repeatedly demanded through legal representation that the unauthorized footage be destroyed or returned, and those requests have not been met," Nieman said.
Nieman said the district has not made any decision to pursue legal action at this time.
In the documentary, van den Brink said the crew had permission from the student’s parents to include her interview.
EO declined an interview with WFAA on Monday. WFAA reached out to Walker for comment on the matter, but she did not respond.
Trustee Micah Young, who was present during the filming, remains on the board.
Fort Worth’s Galileo Church, an LGBTQ-friendly church is featured in the documentary.
Its pastor, Katie Hays, describes the church’s inclusive environment and explains her mission to serve as a spiritual, welcoming space for LGBTQ people.
“I think they were fair to show there’s a range of Christian expression in this country,” Hays said. “I think people around the world are truly curious about how conservative Christians in our country can align themselves with a person like Donald Trump. I think they wanna understand why white, evangelical Christians keep voting for him.”
The episode ends with a member of Galileo Church talking about Trump.
"He’s the shepherd, and they’re the sheep,” she said.
Hays is happy with how the documentary portrayed her church.
“It ends with Galileo Church and our perspective. It’s interesting,” Hays said. “I think it’s saying quite a bit.”