In a damning new report by The Guardian published June 13, six more men have accused Grammy Award-winning superstar Michael Tait of sexually harassing, abusing, or drugging them between 2001 and 2009. Two were minors at the time of their alleged incidents.
The Guardian’s article comes on the heels of The Roys Report’s (TRR) years-long investigation into Tait, published June 4. The allegations have rocked the Christian music industry and provoked a surprise mea culpa response from Tait on June 10 via Instagram.
In response to The Guardian, musician Hayley Williams of Paramore, has made international headlines after calling for the Christian music industry to crumble for covering up Tait’s alleged behavior. Hayley grew up in a Christian home, but Paramore is not a Christian band.
“F*** all of you who knew and didn’t say anything,” she posted on Instagram. “(Tait needed) gay-affirming support. Because this is a man whose entire faith identity is built upon a faulty structure of self-hatred, to please a system that would rather cover up abhorrent behavior for 20+ years (and make money off of it) rather than accept that being gay is not the problem.”
Artists in Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) are also grappling with the fallout of these allegations. Chris Llewellyn, lead singer of Rend Collective, told TRR he resonated with Williams response, calling it a “cry for justice.”
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Llewellyn said he’s “more concerned about the voices that attempt to downplay this than I am about those who would seek to burn down CCM in response.” But he added that CCM needs a “dramatic culture shift.”
“I want to see an end to the parts of CCM that tolerated and incubated this abuse, I’d gladly see those parts die,” he told TRR. “But if I’m honest I’m torn because I also want people to continue to hear good news about a God who loves them no matter what, and to experience the joy of singing about that together.
The Guardian’s report, written by freelance journalist Josiah Hesse, outlined the stories of seven men.
One man, under the pseudonym of “Jacob,” alleged he was massaged by Tait while sharing his king- size bed in 2005. This survivor previously spoke to TRR under the name “Phillip,” and was one of three survivors who came forward in our June 4 exclusive.
The six new stories show a pattern of grooming by Tait, some with intoxication or drug use leading to black-outs, then sexual assault.
‘The pinnacle of godliness’
The first survivor in the report, named “Gabriel,” told The Guardian he believed he was drugged by Tait before the former Newsboys front man assaulted him. The burgeoning Christian musician was 19 when he met a then-38-year-old Tait. Tait began taking Gabriel to bars, buying him drinks while underage, and inviting him to house parties, Gabriel said. This reportedly led to being invited to Tait’s house alone, where Gabriel was introduced to cocaine.
Gabriel stated that one night at Tait’s house, they consumed vodka, Red Bulls, and drugs, before Tait urged him to get into a hot tub.
“(Tait) grabbed my crotch and tried to kiss me at the same time”, Gabriel said. “It wasn’t subtle, and it was out of nowhere. I asked him, ‘What the hell is going on?’ He said he was just joking, but then he did it again. I jumped out of the pool and drove home, which I shouldn’t have done because I was more intoxicated than I’ve ever been, but that’s how scared I was.”
A previous survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Gabriel said that Tait had been sympathetic, and “betrayed that trust.”
“To this day, I jump whenever someone touches me unexpectedly,” Gabriel said. “When something like that happens to you, you feel like the worst person; you feel dirty, worthless. It’s heartbreaking to think someone you look up to could do something like that.”
Gabriel told The Guardian that Tait was presented to him as “the pinnacle of godliness,” and that while he “blamed God’ for his trauma for a while, he still has faith.
“I get that people sin, but to use that as a facade of his righteousness to commit sin, that made me walk away from my faith for a while,” he said. “He took something from me that I’ll never get back. In time, though, I found my way back to God.”
The Guardian report states that Gabriel did not tell anyone about the incident, until he spoke to his friend Shawn Davis 15 years later.
Assaulting a minor
Shawn Davis, who chose to go on record with his name, spoke candidly in The Guardian’s report about experiencing the same pattern of grooming and abuse at the hands of Tait. This occurred at approximately the same time as Gabriel, who he introduced Tait to. But this time, it began when Davis was a minor.
Davis has also spoken extensively with TRR about his story, sharing the same details and facts over a period of five months. Only recently, though, did Davis give TRR his story on-the-record.
Now a business owner in Nashville, Davis was 16 when he met Tait at a party in 2003. He considered Tait’s former band DC Talk as heroes because, “They were Christians, but they rocked out.” He told The Guardian that he and Tait went to bars and parties together, where Tait was able to get him drinks underage. He was also introduced to cocaine by Tait alone at the superstar’s home.
A sexual assault survivor, Davis said, “Tait made me feel like, and seem like, he was my only friend.”
He said that one night at Tait’s house, Tait mixed and served him a drink that tasted strange. Feeling dizzy and sick, he began going in and out of consciousness.
“I woke up in the closet, and he had my pants down, and was giving me a blowjob,” Davis told The Guardian. “ I pushed him off as best as I was able in that state, but he pushed me down, and then I punched him twice and left.”
Davis was 17 when this occurred and said that Tait “love bombed” him to try and reconcile. Eventually, Tait allegedly apologized, but convinced Davis that it was his fault.
“He was very manipulative, and I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt,” Davis said.
Davis stayed friends with Tait, and said that in 2012, Tait tried to pay him for a sexual favor. He was sitting in Tait’s kitchen, when he received a text message from Tait, who was in his bedroom. The picture showed approximately $5,000 in cash.
“He said something to the effect of ‘This could all be yours if you let me suck you off and c** in your ass’,” Davis told The Guardian. Davis quickly called his mother and was picked up before Tait realized he had left. Davis’s mother corroborated this.
After reading Tait’s “Confession” on Instagram earlier this week, Davis told TRR he does not believe Tait is repentant.
“I didn’t believe his apology—it felt hollow, like he was dodging real accountability,” he said. “Instead of owning up to what he did, instead he shielded himself behind Christianity.”
Buried into the fabric of Nashville
Israel Anthem, a Nashville-based videographer was also named in the report, states that Tait masturbated in front of him in public restroom when he was 13.
Anthem, who is related to the late Gospel music legend Dottie Rambo, grew up with Tait as a family acquaintance. He told TRR that his incident with Tait occurred at Houstons (now Bricktops) Restaurant in Nashville’s trendy West End.
“Tait came into the restaurant after my family and stopped by our table to say hi,” he told TRR, in a statement that matched his story shared in The Guardian.
“Forty-five minutes later, I walked to the male restroom,” he said. “We were both standing in front of the urinal making polite conversation. I finished, so zipped up my fly and walked to the sink to wash my hands. Michael kept talking, and when I turned around, he was facing me with his d*ck out. He kept eye contact with me for 20 to 30 seconds and kept talking. I thought he was zipping up his pants, but he was rubbing his penis. It felt like an eternity.”
A family member of Anthem’s told The Guardian that he was, “as white as a ghost,” when he returned from the bathroom.
Anthem said he chose to put his name on the record with The Guardian and TRR because Tait’s influence has infiltrated the Christian music industry.
“Knowledge about Tait’s predator behavior is so intrinsic to Christian music, his nails are burrowed into the fabric of it, that any validation of his behavior invalidates the whole industry,” he said to TRR.
“There are three types of people in Nashville: Those who know the stories about Tait, are survivors and are terrified; Those who validate the stories about Tait, believe them to be true and wait for the day justice happens; And those who will cash a check with Tait despite knowing the truth.”
Odd encounters
Two men shared in the Guardian’s report that Tait behaved inappropriately and left them feeling uncomfortable.
An up-and-coming DJ named “Zach” was invited to Tait’s house when he was 29 with the promise that they could work on music together.
“He was doing a solo tour and said: ‘What we need is a DJ who can come on the road with us,’” Zach said to The Guardian. “And I asked: ‘That would be so cool! What would I need to do?’ And he said: ‘You need to hang out, come around [my house] a lot.’”
Zach said that he was invited into Tait’s studio, which was his bedroom, and encouraged to sit close to Tait. He also spoke to TRR about his encounter with Tait, and TRR cited emails dated July 11, 2008, that placed Zach at Tait’s house.
“He plays (me) a new song, a love song. He’s singing it over the top of the recording, ad lib,” Zach said to TRR. “This would be a concert-level performance if it wasn’t so weird. (All I knew) is that I’ve just got to get out of here.”
Today, he is grateful he left Tait’s house shortly after being serenaded.
“It’s wild to think what could have happened if I did not have my antenna up,” he told TRR.
Another man, named “Abraham,” told The Guardian that Tait once stroked his thigh and his ear at a lunch meeting in 2006. Abraham, who was 22 at the time, also shared his story with TRR, and said it occurred at Nashville’s Macaroni Grill.
“Within a few minutes of the conversation Tait touched my earlobe, and toward the end of the meal, put his hand on my thigh,” Abraham told TRR.
“I was a very naïve young man. So, while I thought it was awkward, I certainly didn’t think the worst. He was talking about how (former DC Talk member) Toby (Mac) was raised (believing) your hair has to be off of your ear. (He mentioned) going to Liberty University. Most people, if they were going to do a gesture, they would touch their own ear. He reached out and kind of caressed my earlobe.”
“Don’t get molested!”
The sixth survivor reported on by The Guardian, named “Adam,” said he met Tait at the age of 22. Describing Tait as “the Christian Elvis,” Adam said that he was dropped off at a bar to see Tait, and as he exited the car, a friend said, “Don’t get molested.” This occurred in 2004.
After a wild night, Adam said they ended up at Tait’s house where he was shown Tait’s trophy room. When they ran out of alcohol, Tait showed him a collection of cars in his garage and told him to “pick one” to take to purchase more alcohol.
On returning to Tait’s house near dawn, Adam said it was now empty. The two drank more alcohol, and Adam became sleepy. He alleges Tait told him it was OK to go sleep and “he laid my head on his lap.”
“(I remember) waking up in his bed, my pants unzipped and (Tait) was jerking me off,” Adam told The Guardian.
“I passed out again, then woke up wondering, ‘What the f*** is happening? I went to the bathroom and had a panic attack, asking myself, ‘Am I supposed to go there and beat him up? Or am I supposed to play it cool?”
Adam later told the story to his girlfriend and some friends. He told The Guardian he believes he was drugged.
“This person has stolen a little piece of our souls,” he said.
This article has been updated to correct a photo caption.
Jessica Morris is a music journalist, podcaster and author based in Melbourne, Australia.
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32 Responses
I have a son that is Gay and he has never conducted him self in this manner. He never sexually abused any men or boys. Michael Tate needs to be in prison because he is a sexual predator. This has nothing to do with being gay. Sexual sin and immorality is not the same thing as sexual assault.
Thank you. So many people seem to be missing this. It does such a disservice to those who have same-sex attractions to assume that that naturally means they’re predators. Assault is assault. Doesn’t matter if the victims are male or female; it’s a separate issue from same-sex attraction.
It’s amazing that most of the accusations are so outdated. Why didn’t they come forward earlier. Since
he stepped down from the Newsboys, Michael has sought treatment for his problems. Its much easier for people to make accusations than to acknowledge when someone makes a step in the right direction.
His “problems” he is a criminal and needs to be in jail. People don’t come forward because they feel shame and embarrassment. It’s all part of it.
When I used to say that Tait gave me the creeps and he seemed gay, Christian music fan friends used to get very peeved at me. Looks like I was right. I don’t enjoy being that kind of right.
See —>. Nov 21, 2024 Newsboys Members Speak Out on Deconstruction in Christian Music
K-LOVE was a bit late to the game in pulling Tait, dcTalk and Tait era newsboys, many independent stations pulled his songs (Tait, dcTalk, newsboys) immediately. Is it because they are so entrenched in CCM that they waited? Also, why aren’t the newsboys talking about the allegations of heavy drinking and partying by all of them while on tour?
These new allegations regarding Michael Tait show an atmosphere conducive to his behavior which proved isn’t accountable to Christian values. The old Newsboys had a tour pastor travel with them which it seems needs to happen again. It is a very sad thing that these six young men were assaulted and prayers go out to them for their emotional healing. May the Lord be with them throughout this ordeal and beyond. It’s sadder still that this happened in a “safe” atmosphere that was plagued with debauchery by an espousing Christian band. True repentance brings forgiveness, may Tait be truly repentant.
Goodness me, it could be argued that if these people need a “tour pastor” to chaperone/police their values and behaviour then they should not even be on any tours in the first place for the sake of potential victims and their own souls.
Till on topic. Get these business enterprises and this celebrity mentality out of the body of Christ and anything related to Christian ministry & mission and community service. Sanctification might be old term and form of behaviour, but at least it endevours to be different and beneficial for all concerned. 🤔
Its in “the body of Christ” because other members of that so called body are the folks found in the hand waving, ticket buying audience. Its a market place peddling a specific product that the purveyors of that product know is in demand. Like any product or market, change comes only when the consumers change, which can happen only when they change that for which they are willing to pay. Marketing 101.
No words. Absolutely no words.
I’m with you. I’m in shock. I thought there is no way this is true. I hate that I’m wrong in this instance. I’ve been to many of their concerts.
Thank you for your hard work in putting together all this research and exposing Michael Tait and problems within certain segments of the Christian music industry. Let’s pray that there would be a spirit of repentance in these arenas, a movement away from show and celebrity, and a movement back towards true Christian faith and worship.
At the same time, I’m not sure what including Hayley Williams’s comments contributes to the article. I had never even heard of her until today.
One wonders if Hayley also called for Hollywood to “crumble” when the revelations of Harvey Weinstein came out?
Honestly, she seems to have less of an issue with Christian music, and more of an issue with God. Her point is that if Michael Tait’s homosexuality was accepted by the Christian community, and he was allowed to be lead singer for DCTalk/Newsboys while being in a gay marriage (which goes against God’s teachings), then none of this would have happened. Newsflash for Haley: men in committed gay relationships also commit sexual abuse, including against minors. The odds probably increase substantially when these men have a platform/power/influence – of course, I’d wager Haley doesn’t want to talk about the problems associated with fame and influence, because that would implicate herself. Easy to judge others, hard to spot the plank in your own eye.
How deep into darkness this scandal cover-up may eventually bring us is hinted at through the telltale “satanic” hand gesture visible in the foreground of the B&W photo above, captioned: “Michael Tait and Shawn Davis. (Courtesy Photo)”.
This guy is a predator. He’s been doing it for 20 + years. No change whatsoever. No willingness to change. Caught with his pants down and then only confesses. This dude used God for his enrichment. He is not a Christian. Never liked him and now I know why.
It seems to me that the Paramore singers response makes Michael Tait into the victim here. The church has not provided him with enough open support, and that’s the real enemy. But then what of Bill Cosby and others outside of the church and even outside of homosexual desires? Are Cosby’s actions the result of not enough support? I imagine Hailey is willing to use this logic for Tait but not for other sexual offenders who aren’t under the church banner.
Good work. But a ‘secular’ publication, the Guardian, was the one to report the really damning details of the ages of the boys involved. Why is that?
Were I still a Catholic, I might well say that this fellow should be shipped off to a monastery for thirty years to do penance for his sins. As it is, the evangelical me never wants to hear his name again. Let him repent in silence, at home.
Hayley Williams seems to have implied that a lack of self control is caused by Christianity and being a homosexual leads to criminal behavior unless homosexuality is accepted as not being sinful.
I wouldn’t be shocked if even more people came forward with stories
Same here.
What’s the usual ratio of SA victims who actually come forward?
One in Fifty?
One in a Hundred?
(Especially since this involves one of the strongest Christianese Sexual Taboos — HOMOSEXUALITY(TM).)
Michael Tait’s recent confession was disappointing and deeply self-centred. While it may appear on the surface like he was coming clean, the truth is that his statement was overwhelmingly focused on himself—his guilt, his struggle, his journey—while the people most harmed by his actions were barely acknowledged. He mentioned the victims only in passing, and then, in the very next sentence, cast doubt on their experiences by attempting to justify or diminish what happened. That’s not accountability—that’s damage control.
What’s most disturbing is how this type of response continues a harmful pattern where those in positions of power or celebrity prioritize their own redemption story over the real pain of the people they’ve hurt. True repentance doesn’t minimize, disrupt, or redirect attention from the voices of the victims. It centers them. It listens. It doesn’t rush to protect a reputation or career.
Because of this, I can no longer support Newsboys. I’ve removed their music from my playlist entirely. No play = no pay. As a fan who once found inspiration in their songs, this decision wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. I won’t be complicit in financially or publicly supporting someone who mishandles confession and retraumatizes victims with half-hearted statements.
I stand with the victims. They deserve full accountability, not selective apologies wrapped in self-preservation. Until we as listeners and supporters draw a firm line and demand better from the people we platform, this cycle of shallow apologies and continued harm will never end.
To the survivors: your voice matters. I believe you. And I stand with you.
Sir,
Precisely. Whether it is a congregation, a small group, (or groupies) or camp, or bible school, or college/university, the resolution to these things cannot begin anywhere other than with the people who support the effort. Their support is why the group or effort exists in the first place. In other words, they are partially responsible for these outcomes over which the “faithful” are earnestly wringing their hands. The difficulty in that comes when I have to separate myself from peers and friends in order to be thus responsible. At that point, we often choose actions that preserve those relationships from which we draw sustenance or by which we seek to define out identity…..a process permeated with self interest and self preservation. We often lose relationships applying this strategy, but in the process gain others who see the strategy as a stirring of a breath of fresh air. Thank you for stepping up/out!
I don’t think a lack of “gay-affirming support” caused Mr. Tait to drug young men and force himself on them. Bill Cosby did the same things to women, and he had all the “support” one could wish for in having consensual relationships. He just preferred rape.
Hayley Williams is an idiot. Christianity’s stance on homosexuality didn’t make Tait a sexual predator. Tait’s lust made him a predator. He would’ve had no problem finding a willing one night stand. Instead, he incapacitated his straight victims and violated them.
Just imagine how Ms. Williams would feel if Tait had drugged and raped women. Would she blame Christianity for being against premarital sex?
Christianity isn’t on trial here. Tait is.
And shame on his fellow musicians who knew and looked the other way.
Nothing surprises me anymore and I have no doubt there are more victims out there who could choose to go public. Making a celebrity out of anyone and giving them a bunch of Mammon is never a good idea. The worst actors go after that and tend to claw their way to the top. This is just reality. Our idolatry empowers this corrupt celebrity system. We end up idolizing people who are putting on a stage act. They do not know Jesus. They do know Narcissism intimately. We set ourselves up to be victimized.
Jesus explains this reality in the non-parable about the sheep and the goats. The goats call Him “Lord, Lord” but do not actually do actions keeping with repentance. They are stage actors, not real disciples. They are judged by their actions. And so you have the blind leading the blind and they all fall in a ditch together. The year my oldest brother died, I experienced a cell in hell reserved for a goat. It was the most real thing I have ever experienced. Tait is paying the highest price as will those others who do not know Jesus. I shared my experience on a video you can watch here, just click on my name to find it…
Let’s start the countdown calendar. How long will it be before he is “restored to ministry”? 3 months, 6 months, a year? Because that’s the way this is handled with a Christian celebrity. Wash, rinse, repeat.
I don’t care if he has charisma and vocal talent. He is dangerous and needs to step out of the spotlight permanently. Let that be his testimony, that he repented and honored his victims by prioritizing their healing over the healing of his own ego and pocketbook.
(Fwiw, I was a Newsboys fan from the very beginning, long before Tait took over lead vocals, but haven’t enjoyed them as much in recent years.)
Having worked for a radio station and worked with people in the industry… I assure you it is not just Tait…this is why the silence. The others are afraid they will be outed as well.
While I am saddened by the profound abuse (sexual, emotional, power) that took place at the Tait’s hands (and agree that he is absolutely responsible for his lusts and his actions, and that CCM is complicit insofar they overlooked gross sin for the sake of profits, image), I am also saddened by the response of Ms. Williams. Yes, it’s true that Tait likely felt he had to cover up his attraction to men in order to survive in the CCM world, but it does not necessarily follow that the solution is the acceptance of homosexuality as normative and desirable. Same-sex attraction is one of the many desires that we, as fallen humans, must submit to the lordship of our creator. It is no worse or better than predilections to anger, alcoholism, lying, or adultery.
How I long for a Christian culture in which people like Tait would feel comfortable being honest about their desires and seeking fellow sojourners toward holiness! Yes, Ms. Williams, I agree with you that covering up abhorrent behaviour is unacceptable! And I agree that being same-sex attracted is not the problem! The problem is putting profits and image before truth and holiness.
Furthermore, I would agree that modern Western Christian culture holds a large part of the blame–not because it is unaffirming of homosexuality, but because it refuses to admit the abusive potential of our fallen natures. It taught Tait that using other people to satisfy his lusts was not “that bad,” just a small blip on a “pretty good” record, not worth his effort to root out the pride, selfishness and lust that was destroying his soul. I know from my own life history that these seemingly “small infractions” have a way of deceiving us into thinking that we are “mostly good.”
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
All I can do is pray that there is a reckoning in the CCM community where those who knew, but did not speak up, at least apologize, or be shown the door, and that if statutes of limitations haven’t run out (especially for those who were minors–it’s a longer statute in general), I pray that Tait face some jail time. My wife and I are currently encouraging a young lady who was (heterosexually) raped as a girl, and there are times that these things do tremendous long term damage.
Put bluntly, may some sharp investigator collect the data and administer “the full Denhollander” to Tait–provide evidence to a degree that even the laziest police investigator is compelled to act.
Tait’s homosexual tendencies or homosexuality is one thing, his exploitation, use & abuse of others through his so called celebrity status the use of alcohol and drugs is completely another. Criminal, completely immoral, devoid of love for others, and any false sugar coated grace extended to him manifests contempt for his victims and excuses Tait from contemplating the health of his soul.
Have always admired the intellect and wit of Oscar Wilde and have recognised that in his darkest times when in prison he contemplated his need for ‘religion’ and hopefully Christ.
But this still didn’t dismiss the fact that Wilde too exploited many young men & teenagers – rent boys – who were primarily from very low socio economic backgrounds.
Notice how power and pride gratification is always in the mix, not just sexual gratification 🤔