Michael Tait’s public confession of long-hidden sin has stunned the Christian music world, collapsing a celebrated legacy under the weight of shame and prompting a sobering plea for forgiveness.

Written By Natasha Peterson // EEW Magazine Online

Michael Tait, once hailed as a cornerstone voice in contemporary Christian music through his work with DC Talk and the Newsboys, is now at the center of a deeply troubling scandal that has sent shockwaves through the faith-based music community.

On June 10, 2025, the 58-year-old singer stunned fans and fellow believers by publicly confessing to decades of sexual misconduct and substance abuse.

In an Instagram post titled “My Confession,” Tait acknowledged what he described as a long-hidden pattern of “reckless and destructive behavior,” including alcoholism, cocaine addiction, and unwanted sensual touching of men. His statement followed a June 3 investigation by The Roys Report, which detailed serious allegations of sexual abuse and grooming dating back to the mid-2000s.

For many in the Christian world, the revelations feel like a painful betrayal by an artist whose music helped define the soundtrack of modern faith expression.

The investigative report published by The Roys Report unveiled testimony from three men, each of whom accused Tait of sexually inappropriate conduct that occurred between 2004 and 2014—a time when Tait was active in both his solo career and touring with the Newsboys.

The men allege that Tait groomed them during music tours and engaged in non-consensual physical contact, often after providing excessive amounts of alcohol. The report was the result of a two-year investigation, which included interviews with more than 50 sources. Each one corroborated claims of substance abuse and predatory behavior, describing a pattern that sharply diverged from Tait’s public image as a Christian artist.

One week after the report's release, Tait broke his silence. “For some two decades, I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way,” he wrote. “I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it—sin.”

He revealed that he entered treatment in January 2025, spending six weeks at a recovery facility in Utah. According to the post, he has been clean and sober since, and is now focused on private repentance and healing, quoting Psalm 51 as a reflection of his spiritual contrition.

Tait also announced he was stepping away from the public stage to pursue what he described as a “singular life of brokenness and dependence on God.”

The fallout was swift.

Major Christian music networks, including K-LOVE, promptly pulled DC Talk and Newsboys music featuring Tait from their rotations. Several local radio stations across North America and Australia followed suit, effectively erasing Tait’s voice from mainstream Christian airwaves. Once synonymous with hits like “Jesus Freak” and “God’s Not Dead,” Tait’s musical legacy now lies under a shadow of controversy.

His former bandmates in Newsboys—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—issued a statement of grief and betrayal, revealing that Tait admitted to leading a double life during a private meeting earlier this year. That meeting led to his quiet exit from the band in January.

Last night, our hearts were shattered,” the statement read. “We are horrified, heartbroken, and angry. Michael consistently denied rumors over the years, and we believed him.”

DC Talk remains one of the most iconic groups in the history of contemporary Christian music (CCM). Known for blending hip-hop, rock, and pop with bold, faith-centered lyrics, the trio reached legendary status with their 1995 album Jesus Freak, which was certified triple-platinum and spent an impressive 79 weeks on the Billboard 200.

Though the group officially went on hiatus in 2001, members Michael Tait, TobyMac, and Kevin Max each launched successful solo careers, continuing to impact Christian music in their own right.

After his actions irreparably tarnished what was once a celebrated musical and faith legacy, Tait confessed, “I have hurt so many people in so many ways, and I will live with that shameful reality the rest of my life. I can only dream and pray for human forgiveness, because I certainly don’t deserve it.”

Read Tait’s full statement posted below:

My Confession
Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity are sadly, largely true. For some two decades I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way. I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them. I will simply call it what God calls it—sin. I don’t blame anyone or anything but myself. While I might dispute certain details in the accusations against me, I do not dispute the substance of them.

When I abruptly left Newsboys in January I did so to get help. I was not healthy, physically or spiritually, and was tired of leading a double life. I spent six weeks at a treatment center in Utah, receiving help that may have saved my life from ultimate destruction. I have been clean and sober since, though I still have lots of hard work ahead of me.

I’m ashamed to admit that for years I have lied and deceived my family, friends, fans, and even misled my bandmates about aspects of my life. I was, for the most part, living two distinctly different lives. I was not the same person on stage Sunday night that I was at home on Monday. I was violating everything I was raised to believe by my God-fearing Dad and Mom, about walking with Jesus and was grieving the very God I loved and sang about for most of my life. By His grace, I can say that for the past six months, I have lived a singular life—one of utter brokenness and total dependence on a loving and merciful God.

I have hurt so many people in so many ways, and I will live with that shameful reality the rest of my life. I can only dream and pray for human forgiveness, because I certainly don’t deserve it. I have even accepted the thought that God may be the only One who ultimately and completely forgives me. Still, I want to say I’m sorry to everyone I have hurt. I am truly sorry. It is my hope and prayer that all those I have hurt will receive healing, mercy, and hope from the Merciful Healer and Hope-Giver.

Even before this recent news became public, I had started on a path to health, healing, and wholeness, thanks to a small circle of clinical health professionals, loving family, caring friends, and wise counselors—all of whom saw my brokenness and surrounded me with love, grace, and prayer. Sin is a terrible thing, taking us where we don’t want to go; keeping us longer than we want to stay; and costing us more than we want to pay. I accept the consequences of my sin and am committed to continuing the hard work of repentance and healing—work I will do quietly and privately, away from the stage and the spotlight.

To the extent my sinful behavior has caused anyone to lose respect or faith or trust in me, I understand, deserve, and accept that. But it crushes me to think that someone would lose or choose not to pursue faith and trust in Jesus because I have been a horrible representative of Him—for He alone is ultimately the only hope for any of us.

King David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 has been my prayer this year:

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness…
Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me…Create in me a new heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

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