Michael Tait, the previous lead singer of Christian rock band Newsboys and member of Grammy-winning group DC Talk, publicly confessed Tuesday to a history of “reckless and destructive behaviour,” including drug and alcohol abuse and unwanted sexual conduct involving men.
In a written statement on Instagram, the 59-year-old singer acknowledged that “recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior … are sadly, largely true.”
“For some 20 years, I used and abused cocaine, consumed far an excessive amount of alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way. I’m ashamed of my life decisions and actions, and make no excuses for them. I’ll simply call it what God calls it — sin,” he wrote.
“I’m ashamed to confess that for years I even have lied and deceived my family, friends, fans, and even misled my bandmates about points of my life. I used to be, for essentially the most part, living two distinctly different lives. I used to be not the identical person on stage Sunday night that I used to be at home on Monday. I used to be violating every thing I used to be raised to consider by my God-fearing Dad and Mom, about walking with Jesus and was grieving the very God I loved and sang about for many of my life. By His grace, I can say that for the past six months, I even have lived a singular life—certainly one of utter brokenness and total dependence on a loving and merciful God.”
Tait’s confession follows an in-depth investigative report published by The Roys Report last week, during which three men accused him of sexual assault during separate incidents dating back to 2004. The investigation also documented long-term allegations of drug and alcohol abuse during his time as a touring Christian music artist.
While disputing some unspecified details, Tait said he doesn’t challenge “the substance of them.”
Tait revealed that he entered treatment shortly after abruptly stepping down from Newsboys in January, spending six weeks in recovery in Utah for addiction and emotional healing.
“I even have been clean and sober since, though I still have plenty of labor ahead of me,” he wrote.
“I even have hurt so many individuals in so some ways, and I’ll live with that shameful reality the remainder of my life,” he said. “I would like to say I’m sorry to everyone I even have hurt. I’m truly sorry.”
Tait thanked the “small circle” of health professionals, members of the family and spiritual advisors who’ve supported him, saying they “surrounded me with love, grace, and prayer.” He also quoted Psalm 51, King David’s famous prayer of repentance: “Blot out my transgressions … create in me a latest heart, O God.”
“To the extent my sinful behavior has caused anyone to lose respect or faith or trust in me, I understand, deserve, and accept that,” he added. “But it crushes me to think that somebody would lose or select to not pursue faith and trust in Jesus because I even have been a horrible representative of Him.”
Tait’s statement is his first public acknowledgment since The Roys Report published its initial exposé on June 3. The story included testimony from three men who said they were 22 years old on the time of their respective encounters with Tait. Each described an analogous pattern of grooming, excessive alcohol use, and non-consensual physical contact. The report also cited over 50 sources that corroborated a pattern of substance abuse and inappropriate behaviour.
The fallout has been swift. K-LOVE, the country’s largest Christian radio network, confirmed it has pulled music by Newsboys and DC Talk from rotation. Several local stations across North America and Australia have followed suit.
Meanwhile, the remaining members of Newsboys, Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips and Adam Agee, released an announcement last week expressing “horror, heartbreak, and anger,” and saying they felt “deceived” by Tait, who they said admitted in January to “living a double life.”
In a Facebook group, Agee, who took over the position of lead singer following Tait’s exit, also said the band had “obviously heard rumors over time,” but “every time something got here up we tried to seek out the source and nobody would tell us.”
“We asked Tait every time something would come up and he would deny it emphatically. He called a gathering the primary week of January and none of us knew that the following day we can be a 4 piece band as an alternative of a 5 piece,” he said.
Tait concluded his post by stating that he accepts the implications of his sin and is “committed to continuing the labor of repentance and healing-work” privately and “away from the stage and the highlight.”
 Michael Tait, the previous lead singer of Christian rock band Newsboys and member of Grammy-winning group DC Talk, publicly confessed...){kind=link}