(RNS) — Michael Tait, an alum of Christian rock bands Newsboys and DC Talk, is facing allegations of sexual assault from three men he met in the Christian music industry, according to an investigation from The Roys Report published Wednesday (June 4).
Newsboys members Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein and Adam Agee said in a statement to RNS they were “devastated” by the implications of the allegations against Tait, who left the band earlier this year.
“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 four band members wrote. “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.”
Known for performing on Christian music hits like DC Talk’s “Jesus Freak” (1996) and Newsboys’ “God’s Not Dead” (2011), Tait has been a mainstay of the contemporary Christian music world since the 1990s. He attended the evangelical Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, in the 1980s, where he began DC Talk with bandmates Kevin Max and Toby McKeehan (TobyMac). The band won four Grammy Awards before taking a hiatus in 2001.
Tait toured for several ye …