The Untold Truth Of The Mary Kay Letourneau Case: 5 Shocking Updates On Vili Fualaau And The 'May December' Controversy

The Mary Kay Letourneau case remains one of the most polarizing and scrutinized teacher-student relationships in modern American history, a scandal that shocked the nation in the late 1990s and continues to generate intense debate today, especially with the release of the 2023 film May December. As of late December 2025, the focus has shifted entirely to the life of Vili Fualaau, the former student, as Letourneau herself passed away several years ago, leaving behind a complex legacy that is now being re-examined through a new lens of popular culture and personal testimony.

The story, which began in a Burien, Washington, sixth-grade classroom, involved a 34-year-old married elementary school teacher and her 12-year-old student, Vili Fualaau. The relationship led to a statutory rape conviction, a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence, two children, a high-profile marriage, and an eventual divorce. The most recent, and perhaps most surprising, chapter involves Fualaau's public reaction to the Hollywood dramatization of his life, a move that brought the entire tragic saga back into the spotlight.

Mary Kay Letourneau & Vili Fualaau: A Full Biography and Timeline

The relationship between Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau is one of the most documented and controversial in criminal history. The timeline of events spanned decades, from a secret affair to a globally recognized marriage and eventual separation.

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• Mary Kay Letourneau (Born: January 30, 1962, Tustin, California)
  • Education: University of Oregon.
  • Career: Elementary school teacher in Burien, Washington.
  • Original Spouse: Steve Letourneau (married 1983; divorced 2004).
  • Children: Four children with Steve, two children (Audrey and Georgia) with Vili.
  • Conviction: Pled guilty to two counts of second-degree rape of a child in 1997.
  • Sentence: Served seven and a half years in prison, released 2004.
  • Death: Died of cancer on July 6, 2020, at age 58.
• Vili Fualaau (Born: c. 1983, Seattle, Washington)
  • Age at Start of Affair: 12 years old (in 1996).
  • Relationship Status: Married Letourneau in 2005; divorced in 2017.
  • Current Status (2024/2025): Alive, living in the Seattle area, and working in a variety of fields, including as a DJ.
  • Family Update: Vili Fualaau is set to become a grandfather.

The affair began in 1996 when Letourneau was 34 and Fualaau was 12, a student in her sixth-grade class. She became pregnant with their first child, Audrey, while out on bail in 1997. She was arrested after being found with Fualaau in a car, violating a no-contact order. The second child, Georgia, was conceived during a brief period between her first and second jail sentences.

The Shocking Aftermath: Death, Divorce, and a New Life

Following her release from prison in 2004, Letourneau and Fualaau married in 2005. The marriage itself was a source of international fascination and controversy, with many questioning the nature of a relationship that began with a crime. Despite the public scrutiny, they remained together for over a decade, raising their two daughters, Audrey and Georgia Fualaau.

In 2017, the couple filed for legal separation, citing an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. The divorce was finalized shortly thereafter. Vili Fualaau, now an adult in his mid-30s, stated that he had simply grown apart from Letourneau and that the relationship had run its course after two decades.

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The final chapter of Mary Kay Letourneau's life came in July 2020. She passed away at the age of 58 after a battle with cancer. Vili Fualaau was reportedly by her side in her final months and days, a deeply personal moment that highlighted the enduring, albeit complicated, bond they shared, despite their divorce.

Vili Fualaau has largely maintained a private life in the years since the divorce, focusing on his children and his career. He has worked as a DJ and in various other roles, attempting to build a normal life away from the intense media spotlight. A significant update in his personal life is the news that he is preparing to become a grandfather, a detail that starkly contrasts with the public's memory of him as a child victim in a notorious case.

The 'May December' Controversy: Vili Fualaau Speaks Out

The most recent and significant development in the public discourse surrounding the case came with the release of the 2023 Netflix film May December, starring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman. The movie, directed by Todd Haynes, is a fictionalized account heavily inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau story, focusing on a teacher-student relationship and the subsequent life of the couple.

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The film's success brought the original case back into the pop-culture conversation, but it also provoked a strong reaction from Vili Fualaau himself. In a series of public statements, he expressed profound disappointment and stated he was "offended" by the movie.

Why Fualaau Felt 'Offended'

Fualaau's primary grievance was that the filmmakers—including the director, writers, and stars—never consulted him or his children during the production process. He felt they had "ripped off" his story and exploited his trauma for entertainment without his input or consent.

• Lack of Consultation: Fualaau stated that no one from the production team, including Julianne Moore or Natalie Portman, reached out to him to understand his perspective.
• Exploitation of Trauma: He argued that the film profited from his life story and the pain of his family.
• His Current Life: Fualaau pointed out that he is "still alive and well" and living in the Seattle area, making the lack of consultation particularly egregious.

This reaction from Vili Fualaau sparked a wider debate about ethics in filmmaking, the exploitation of real-life trauma, and the rights of subjects whose lives inspire controversial true-crime and drama projects. The movie, which explores themes of statutory rape, predator-victim dynamics, and media sensationalism, is now inseparable from Fualaau's vocal criticism, adding a complex layer to the film's legacy.

The Mary Kay Letourneau case, therefore, is not a closed chapter of history. With Letourneau's death and Fualaau's recent public commentary, the narrative continues to evolve, shifting from a sensational crime story to a complex study of long-term trauma, media ethics, and the quiet, complicated life of a man who has finally found his voice after decades in the spotlight.