Introduction
The 60 Minutes Australia segment explores Elvis Presley’s previously hidden history of dating numerous 14-year-old girls, beyond just Priscilla Beaulieu. Several women, now in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, share their experiences of dating Elvis when they were teenagers, with some recalling being as young as 14 while he was in his 20s or even 30s.
These women, including Francis Forbes and Sandy Farah, describe their relationships as innocent, involving kissing and spending time at Graceland, but not sexual. They emphasize that the age gap was not considered unusual at the time, especially in the rural South where some of their own parents had similar age differences.
However, biographer Suzanne Finstad, who wrote Priscilla Presley’s biography, reveals that Priscilla confided in her about Elvis feeling immense pressure to perform sexually as “the King” and sex symbol. This led him to prefer inexperienced girls, as he felt more comfortable and authoritative with them. The segment also notes that Elvis was aware of legal implications, reportedly telling girls “14 will get you 20” (referring to a potential 20-year prison sentence).
Despite their fond memories, the women concede that by today’s standards, such relationships would be considered “unthinkable” and potentially lead to legal consequences. The segment raises questions about whether Elvis’s behavior could be considered pedophilia, with Finstad suggesting psychological factors and the cultural norms of the era played a role, though not excusing the age difference.