A former member of another rock group has publicly come out as one of many many victims of undesirable advances by the previous lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait, saying he additionally is aware of particulars of different severe incidents.
In a latest video posted to X, Darren King got here ahead to share that he was the person recognized as “Abraham” within the investigations revealed by The Roys Report (TRR) and The Guardian.
As CBN Information reported, these investigative stories launched in June by each retailers reveal allegations of sexual misconduct and drug abuse all through Tait’s profession, together with the testimonies of three males who declare the previous DC Discuss star groomed and sexually assaulted them between 2004 and 2014.
Tait later confessed in a web-based publish to “touching males in an undesirable sensual approach” and abusing alcohol and cocaine for years, however he disputed “sure particulars” of the accusations lobbed at him.
READ: Michael Tait Confesses to Allegations of Sexual Misconduct and Drug Abuse
King, who’s the previous drummer for Earthsuit and Mutemath, informed his followers on X that he’s keen to return ahead to assist his pals who had been victims of extra severe situations of “Tait’s assaults.”
“My story is by far the least extreme of anybody’s talked about,” King mentioned.
He recounted that when he first met Tait almost 20 years in the past, he was “so excited to get to fulfill one in all my childhood heroes,” however the encounter shortly turned to at least one that made him “uncomfortable.”
In solely the “first 4 or 5 minutes of the dialog” with Tait, the advances reportedly started. King described that whereas at dinner the previous Newsboy frontman “in a extremely compelled approach, discovered a solution to stroke my ear and put his hand on my leg.”
King mentioned that “fortunately” that was his first and final encounter with the now 59-year-old Tait. He went on to say that just about a decade after that incident, “an expensive good friend of mine confided in me a narrative of precise sexual assault that occurred at Michael Tait’s home.”
“Years glided by and I heard different rumors. Extra simply rumors of his fixed partying and debauchery, not of assault,” King added. “Then about 5 months in the past, my pricey good friend Israel (Anthem) whom I’ve recognized since 1997, and I used to work for his mother and father…Israel contacted me a few new story being carried out and when you learn he was solely 13 when he was assaulted… I by no means knew that story till this yr and I used to be heartbroken to listen to it however glad that any person was really doing the work of investigative journalism to begin to convey all of this within the gentle.”
King famous within the video that he was in a position to join a few of Tait’s alleged victims to the Guardian and the Roys Report back to “expose the tradition that facilitates and attracts these predators.”
“I hope that everybody facilities the victims as you speak about this and give it some thought, quite than worrying in regards to the destiny of the Newsboys or of Michael Tait,” King said. “I hope that you just first heart the victims, honor them, and search restoration for them. I hope that this goes to courtroom. I hope that Tait is delivered to justice in a courtroom of legislation.”
King is without doubt one of the many individuals additionally calling out the Christian music business for reportedly turning a blind eye to Tait’s conduct.
As CBN Information reported, Christian singer Cory Asbury, well known for his music “Reckless Love,” claimed on social media that “everybody knew” about Tait’s misconduct, contending that many different artists live “double lives.”
The 39-year-old Asbury steadily addresses what he sees as points within the Christian music business and was responding to a query posed by a follower when making these claims. “Everybody knew, perhaps not the particular particulars, however everybody knew,” he mentioned.
Christian apologist Mike Winger reposted these feedback on X, whereas additionally criticizing the Christian up to date music business.
“Possibly the explanation Michael Tait acquired away with it for thus lengthy is as a result of a complete lot of different individuals in his business are additionally getting away with it,” Winger speculated. “And this ends in a tradition the place exposing anybody is seen as a menace to everybody.”
King, who says he was as soon as a Christian, believes others aided Tait in his abuse for almost 20 years.
“I believe that somebody can solely interact on this stage of predation for this size of time…with a staff of helpers,” King shared. “And I imagine that Tait has a staff of people that spend their time, power, and cash clearing his popularity and suppressing criticism or suppressing the reality.”
King additionally referred to as out Tait for his June 10 confession calling it “B.S.”
“I believe that it was an try to attenuate the severity of the claims (and) I believe that it was an try and deflect accountability from his staff of handlers,” King mentioned.
He added that he “doubts” that these round Tait had been “oblivious.”
“Whereas I do not know a lot about these shadowy figures, I discover it very arduous to imagine that his bandmates didn’t know,” King mentioned.
In the meantime, the remaining members of the Newsboys are left to face the music, shedding their recording contract and gigs. Kingdom Sure Ministries lately introduced it has dropped the Newboys from its July pageant lineup.
“In latest weeks, considerations have come to gentle concerning allegations surrounding The Newsboys,” the pageant’s assertion mentioned. “After prayerful reflection and dialogue, our staff, alongside our Board of Administrators, has made the choice to maneuver in a unique course from the band for this yr’s pageant.”
This yr’s pageant lineup consists of Anne Wilson, Colton Dixon, Disciple, Skillet, Matthew West, and Rend Collective.
***Please join CBN Newsletters and obtain the CBN Information app to make sure you hold receiving the newest information from a distinctly Christian perspective.***
