Hillsong founder Brian Houston denies posting porn to X

Days after an explicit pornographic video appeared on his X account, Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston sought to guarantee supporters that he doesn’t watch pornography and alleged that somebody with access to one in all his devices compromised the account.

“I desired to take a moment to talk to people personally and address a vile post that appeared on my X account a couple of days ago. An excellent start line is to say, I don’t watch pornography, not online, not on social media, nowhere else,” the founding father of the Australia-based global megachurch declared in a video on Facebook Wednesday.

“I’ve been in energetic ministry for over 54 years, and in that point, I’ve seen the fallout of pornography on individuals, on marriages, on families, and I detest it.”

The 72-year-old Houston said on the time the post appeared on his X page that he and his wife, Bobbie, were “in bed.”

Taking issue with The Christian Post’s use of the word “hacked” in last week’s report, Houston clarified that he never used the word hacked and as a substitute said “compromised,” adding that there’s a difference between an account being hacked and compromised. 

“According to The Christian Post, and doubtless others, they said, and a tweet that I did since then, that I said that I used to be hacked. I never used the word hacked. That’s false. It’s unfaithful. I did say my account was compromised, and you may say, ‘Well, what is the difference?’ But I believe that there is a difference,” he explained.

“I do not believe that it’s likely that anyone actually hacked into my X account. Not not possible, but unlikely. I believe there’s a special explanation. I feel that somebody has used one in all my very own devices, using my very own passcode, to access my phone without my knowledge or my permission.

“Someone with a grudge desired to cause maximum damage, but perhaps minimum effort, to smear me and to humiliate me. And I do not think it’s the primary time it’s happened.” 

Houston, who, after leaving Hillsong, launched the ministry Jesusfollowers.television along with his wife, said in an X post last week: “This account was compromised overnight. Any odd posts, links, or messages shared earlier weren’t legitimate and have been reported and deleted. Thank you to your patience.” 

The pastor further clarified that he didn’t imagine this was the primary time the unknown person had gained access to his accounts and said he and his wife were offended by the post.

“If you were exposed to that video, and also you were disgusted or offended, I totally understand. Bobbie and I feel the exact same way,” he said before asking for prayers.

“Bobbie and I should not quitters. We keep trucking on. I’m asking you to hope for us, and we will definitely proceed to hope for all of the people in our world. God bless you,” he ended.

In a separate incident in 2024, Houston said his X account was hacked after the account tweeted the words “ladies and girls kissing,” drawing scrutiny from social media users. 

Houston later reposted a statement shared by one in all his assistants urging users to disregard any recent posts that “seem out of the conventional.”

“Rest assured we’re working on discovering how Ps. Brian was hacked,” the statement read on the time. “Our team has ascertained that somebody logged into his account from a location inside the USA. We’ve modified his password so here’s hoping they not have access. Please disregard anything that seems out of the conventional. For your safety remember Pastor Brian doesn’t contact anyone privately.”

Houston resigned as Hillsong Church’s global senior pastor in March 2022, amid revelations that two women made allegations of sexual misconduct against him. 

In January 2022, Hillsong Church announced that Houston was stepping down from his role on the church’s helm.

Before his formal resignation from Hillsong Church, Houston initially stepped down from Hillsong’s boards in September 2021 as he faced criminal charges related to allegations he concealed sex abuse committed by his father, Frank Houston, many years earlier after he heard about it in 1999. Houston denied any wrongdoing, and an Australian court later found him not guilty of the costs.

Four months before the acquittal, Houston pled guilty to driving drunk and driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or more in California. He was also sentenced to 3 years’ probation, a $140 high-quality, and other penalties.

Court records show that after an arrest on Feb. 26, 2022, Houston pled “not guilty” to driving drunk, driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or more, and failing to display two license plates on the vehicle he was driving.

The Hillsong Church founder, who was set for a pre-trial hearing that June, reversed course on the drinking charges while the charge for failing to display two license plates on the vehicle he was driving was dismissed.

In addition to the three-year probation and the $140 high-quality he received for the driving under the influence charge, the court required him to finish a three-month first-offender alcohol program, victim impact counseling, and take part in self-help meetings for one yr.

© The Christian Post