'Sadly, largely true': Ex-Newsboys singer speaks on sexual assault allegations

USA Today

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'Sadly, largely true': Ex-Newsboys singer speaks on sexual assault allegations
Michael Tait, former lead singer of Christian rock band Newsboys, has admitted to wrongdoing after allegations of sexual assault surfaced.
Tait, 59, took to social media on June 10 to share his side of the story, telling fans in a statement titled "My Confession" that a recent report detailing his 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," he wrote. "I will simply call it what God calls it-sin."
Tait's admission comes nearly a week after his bandmates released their own statement addressing the allegations highlighted in a years-long investigation by Christian media outlet The Roys Report.
Three men, who were all 22 at the time of their encounters, told the outlet that Tait befriended them and later engaged in non-consensual sexual acts with them. Tait made friends with the men while on tour in 2004, 2010 and 2014, according to The Roys Report.
"Last night, our hearts were shattered when we read the news alleging drug abuse and inappropriate sexual actions by our former lead singer, Michael Tait," the Nashville-based band shared in a June 5 statement. "While Michael has not addressed these allegations, we are devastated even by the implications."
The statement continued: "First and foremost, our hearts are with the victims who have bravely shared their stories. If you are a victim, we urge you to come forward. We absolutely do not condone any form of sexual assault."
Who is Michael Tait?
Tait was the former lead singer of Australian-formed Christian rock band Newsboys. The four-time Grammy-award winning vocalist replaced original member Peter Furler as the group's new lead vocalist in 2009. Tait officially left the group in January 2025 after 15 years.
Before he performed with Newsboys, Tait was a founding member of DC Talks, a Christian rap and rock trio, that released five major studio albums together.
Newsboys 'horrified, heartbroken, and angry' by report
Tait's bandmates were "horrified, heartbroken, and angry" to learn of the accusations made in the report, writing in the statement that they felt as though they and their families were "deceived for the last fifteen years."
"The four of us are husbands and fathers. Between the four of us, we have fourteen children," the band said in the statement. "Our wives and children have made many sacrifices while we have dedicated our lives to playing music together that glorifies God."
In the statement, Newsboys members also revealed that Tait confessed to them and management that he had "been living a double-life" when he abruptly left the band in January.
Tait, who said he does not blame anyone or anything besides himself, said he left Newsboys earlier this year "to get help."
"I was not healthy, physically or spiritually, and tired of leading a double life," Tait wrote. "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 lots of hard work ahead of me."
Read Michael Tait's full statement
Contributing: Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network