T.D. Jakes Confronts Sexual Assault Allegations Head-On in TODAY Show Interview

Embattled mega pastor T.D. Jakes denies sexual assault claims in a TODAY Show interview, tackling what he calls “misinformation” and dispelling Diddy rumors. Learn more about his defense amid a legal and personal health storm.

Written By Carla Funderbirk, Rebecca Johnson // EEW Magazine Online

Photo: TODAY Show

Bishop T.D. Jakes, the towering figure behind The Potter’s House of Dallas megachurch, faced the nation on March 26, 2025, in a gripping sit-down with TODAY show host Craig Melvin.

The interview came as Jakes battles explosive allegations of sexual assault and grooming from two brothers, Duane and Richard Youngblood, claims that stretch back to the 1980s and have ignited a firestorm of legal and public reckoning.

With a defamation lawsuit underway and his name tangled in rumors tied to Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jakes used the platform to deliver a staunch defense, labeling the accusations "misinformation" and "disinformation" while revealing the personal cost—including a massive heart attack in November 2024.

This is no sidelight health story; it’s a pastor staring down a legacy-defining crisis.

Left to Right: Duane Youngblood, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Richard Youngblood, Sr.

The allegations broke in October 2024 when Duane Youngblood, a Pennsylvania minister with a shadowed past, took to the "Larry Reid Live" YouTube show. He accused Jakes of trying to groom and sexually assault him as a teenager in the mid-1980s, alleging an attempted kiss and suggestive overtures. Months later, in February 2025, Richard Youngblood backed his brother with a court affidavit, claiming Jakes climbed into his bed during a 1986 hotel stay, pressed against him, and later scolded him for raising the matter with church elders.

Jakes has fired back, branding the claims baseless and filing a defamation suit against Duane on November 25, 2024, bolstered by 600 pages of rebuttal evidence from his legal team.

Speaking to Melvin, the 67-year-old didn’t mince words. "We’re living in a time of misinformation and disinformation that’s hard to live with," he said, his voice carrying the weight of a man who’s seen his reputation battered. He suggested the accusations stem from opportunism rather than truth: "Some people don’t see you as an individual, they see you as an opportunity."

When Melvin pressed him on whether more accusers might emerge, Jakes leaned into a broader cultural critique. "I don’t know where we are right now," he said. "From the looks of last year and how many Black celebrities and celebrities in general have had to endure this kind of stuff, I think there’s a hopelessness, a desperateness. Desperate people do desperate things." It was a sobering reflection, one that hinted at a man bracing for a protracted fight.

Jakes’ legal counteroffensive is as fierce as his rhetoric. "I filed the suit because if you don’t ever speak back, it just continues to go on and on and on," he told Melvin, his tone firm. "And I decided, enough is enough." He doubled down on his denial: "I haven’t seen this person for 40 years, and this particular individual has been arrested as a child predator twice and convicted." That’s a pointed jab at Duane Youngblood’s criminal record—convictions for sexual assault and corruption of minors in 2008 and 2014—underscoring a key pillar of Jakes’ defense.

The storm doesn’t end with the Youngbloods. Jakes also tackled a separate wave of damaging speculation linking him to Sean "Diddy" Combs. His name surfaced in a March 2024 lawsuit against Combs, where the music mogul allegedly sought Jakes’ influence to salvage his image amid sexual assault and trafficking allegations. Though Jakes isn’t accused of wrongdoing there, AI-generated rumors spread tales of his involvement in Combs’ notorious parties—claims refuted in a May 2024 Snopes report.

Jakes’ attorneys have subpoenaed Google over this content, and he didn’t hold back on TODAY. "Killing people’s character has become a business," he said, his frustration palpable. "It’s almost like we enjoy being angry. We enjoy whatever is salacious. We’re not interested in truth."

For months, Jakes stayed quiet. "I said nothing, because the more you talk, the more you feed the fire," he confessed to Melvin. But that tactic faltered as the allegations mounted, so he’s speaking out, marking a shift from restraint to resolve. It’s a calculated move for a man whose global ministry—built over decades through sermons, books, and media—now hangs in the balance.

The interview wasn’t without its health bombshell. Jakes confirmed he suffered a massive heart attack on November 24, 2024, falling silent at the end of sermon, a detail that’s grabbed headlines but risks eclipsing the allegations’ gravity. He tied the near-death occurrence to the strain of the controversy, yet kept the focus on his fight: survival in the pulpit and the courtroom.

The Youngbloods’ claims paint a stark picture. Duane alleges Jakes tried to kiss him and spoke of a relationship, later brushing it off as his "stock was rising." Richard’s affidavit recounts Jakes sliding into his bed, an erection against him, followed by a reprimand for speaking out. Jakes’ lawsuit calls these "knowingly and flagrantly false," spotlighting Duane’s rap sheet and timeline discrepancies—like shifting ages in his story. After Youngblood’s lawyer demanded $6 million on November 15, 2024, Jakes sued, seeking damages over $75,000. Duane pushed to dismiss the case in January 2025 under Pennsylvania’s anti-SLAPP law, while Richard’s affidavit keeps the legal pot boiling.

The Combs connection adds fuel. The lawsuit by producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones doesn’t implicate Jakes but ties him to a scandal that’s rocked entertainment. Online, it’s morphed into a "coordinated campaign of lies," as Jakes sees it, amplifying the stakes.

As of now, this saga is far from over. Jakes still shepherds The Potter’s House, a 30,000-strong flock he’s led since 1996. Once hailed as "America’s Best Preacher" by Time Magazine, he now faces a crossroads that could redefine his legacy.

The TODAY interview isn’t just a defense—it’s a gauntlet thrown down in a battle where truth, perception, and power collide. Whether it stanches the bleeding or invites more wounds, one thing is clear: Jakes isn’t going quietly.