Michael Tait, the former frontman of the Newsboys and a significant figure in contemporary Christian music, has been accused by multiple men of sexual misconduct spanning over two decades, according to a detailed investigation by The Roys Report. These allegations include non-consensual touching and grooming, casting a long shadow over Tait's once-illustrious career.
Tait first rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the Grammy-winning group DC Talk before transitioning to a solo career and later becoming the lead singer of the Newsboys, a band with multiple Grammy nominations and a revered place in Christian music history. His departure from the Newsboys in January 2025 was announced on social media, where he cited "prayer and fasting" as the reason but offered no further explanation. This announcement came just days before a planned spring tour.
The Roys Report’s investigation, which included interviews with over 50 sources, revealed that Tait formed individual friendships with three men—all 22 years old at the time—during separate Christian music tours in 2004, 2010, and 2014. Each relationship allegedly ended with Tait making non-consensual advances that deeply scarred the victims.
One such accuser, identified as "Steven" to protect his identity, described a harrowing experience from a 2010 tour. Steven, a touring musician who had long idolized Tait, recounted how their friendship quickly became intimate, with dinners, drinks, and late-night hangouts. Fellow bandmates from Chris Sligh’s band, which was opening for the Newsboys, noticed Tait’s unusually close attention to Steven. Lead singer Chris Sligh told The Roys Report, "Most of the time, big stars do not hang around and watch the opener show. I remember sort of being peeved that Tait cared more about my [bandmate] than he cared about me. And then it slowly evolved into something that I felt was weird."
Steven alleges that after drinking at Tait’s home, he received a foot massage and later woke up to find Tait fondling his genitals and kissing him. Despite trying to pull away multiple times, the unwanted advances continued until Steven subtly moved, prompting Tait to stop. Fearful of professional fallout and embarrassment, Steven initially shared only partial details with his bandmates and confided fully only to his then-girlfriend. When Steven confronted Tait weeks later about the incident, Tait apologized but brushed it off as if it were no big deal. Steven eventually left the Christian music scene.
Another accuser, "Phillip," shared a disturbing encounter from 2005 during a visit to Nashville. Originally seeing Tait as a mentor, Phillip described a late-night party where he and Tait were left alone after others left a hot tub. Tait began giving Phillip a massage that escalated to inappropriate touching, including touching his buttocks and inserting fingers into his anal region. Phillip told Tait to stop, and while Tait apologized and turned away, the two never spoke again.
The third accuser, "Taylor," recounted an incident from 2014 on a tour bus. After a group outing where many were intoxicated, Taylor fell asleep only to awaken moments later to find Tait rubbing his genitals over his pants. Frozen in shock, Taylor pretended to wake up, which prompted Tait to stop and leave. Taylor and his wife have come forward in solidarity with other victims. Taylor’s wife expressed their faith and trust in divine timing, saying, "Taylor and I very much love the Lord, and I personally believe that whenever the Lord wants to expose it, and God is ready to shine the light, He will. And so, I’m just like, ‘Okay, Lord, if this is what we need to do, we know we need to share this part of what we know,’ then, I believe God will protect [us]."
Despite repeated requests for comment by The Roys Report, Michael Tait has not responded to the allegations publicly.
The Newsboys released a heartfelt statement on social media on June 4, 2025, expressing their devastation and heartbreak. They wrote, "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. While Michael has not addressed these allegations, we are devastated even by the implications. 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."
The band members, all husbands and fathers with fourteen children between them, spoke about the personal toll this revelation has taken. "We are horrified, heartbroken, and angry at this report and in many ways, we feel as if we and our families have been deceived for the last fifteen years." They revealed that when Tait left the band in January, he confessed to them and management that he "had been living a double-life," though none could have imagined the extent of the misconduct.
This scandal has sent shockwaves through the Christian music community and beyond, prompting a broader conversation about accountability, power dynamics, and the culture within Christian circles that may have allowed such abuses to go unchecked for so long.
In response to the unfolding crisis, many Christian leaders and commentators have called for deep reflection and systemic change. One article responding to the scandal urged the Christian community to confront these painful truths with humility and repentance. It emphasized the need to support victims and to learn from these failures to foster a culture where moral integrity is the norm rather than the exception.
Questions are being raised about whether unchecked power and the prioritization of celebrity over sanctification have contributed to a culture where such abuses could occur and remain hidden. The call is for Christians to examine their hearts, relationships, and accountability structures, and to bring "open secrets" into the light before they become public scandals.
As the community grapples with this painful chapter, the hope remains that these revelations will lead to meaningful change, greater transparency, and a renewed commitment to protecting the vulnerable while honoring the core values of the faith.
Michael Tait’s story is a sobering reminder that no figure, however revered, is beyond scrutiny, and that safeguarding the integrity of any community requires vigilance, courage, and compassion.
