(RNS) — Days after an investigation revealed allegations of sexual assault against Christian musician Michael Tait, the former Newsboys frontman publicly admitted to abusing cocaine and alcohol and touching men “in an unwanted sensual way.”
“I am ashamed of my life choices and actions, and make no excuses for them,” Tait wrote in an Instagram post Tuesday evening (June 10). “I will simply call it what God calls it-sin. … While I might dispute certain details in the accusations against me, I do not dispute the substance of them.”
Last week, The Roys Report reported that three men Tait met in the Christian music industry between 2004 and 2014 accused him of substance abuse and sexual assault. RNS was unable to reach the alleged victims, who were given anonymity in the Roys article.
Known for performing on Christian music hits such as 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 was a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning Christian rock trio DC Talk and later became the lead singer of Christian rock band Newsboys in 2009, before abruptly leaving in January.
Tait admitted in his Instagram post that he was largely “living two distinctly different lives” and said he left Newsboys because he was “tired of leading a double life.”
“I am truly sorry,” Tait wrote. “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.”
He said he is now sober after spending six weeks at a treatment center in Utah.
“I accept the consequences of my sin and am committ …