Former Newsboys Frontman Michael Tait Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Multiple Men
Former Newsboys frontman Michael Tait has been accused by multiple men of sexual misconduct, including non-consensual touching and grooming, in allegations spanning more than two decades, according to a new investigation by The Roys Report. Tait is one of the most recognizable figures in the history of contemporary Christian music, rising to prominence in the 1990s as one-third of the Grammy-winning group DC Talk before launching a solo career and eventually becoming the lead singer of the Newsboys, a legendary group in its own right with multiple Grammy nominations.
He stepped away from the Newsboys in January, writing on social media that “amidst prayer and fasting,” he had decided it was time to leave. “The decision does not come lightly,” he wrote without providing an explanation. At the time, the Newsboys were merely days away from a spring tour.
The report alleges 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, before making non-consensual advances on them. The Roys Report (TRR) said it interviewed more than 50 people for the story.
Tait has not provided a statement about the allegations, and The Roys Report said it had “reached out repeatedly to Tait for comment with no response.”
One such incident involved “Steven” (not his real name), a 22-year-old touring musician who alleges he was sexually assaulted by Tait after the then-Newsboys frontman befriended him.
Steven, who had long idolized Tait, said their friendship developed quickly after they met during a 2010 tour, with the relationship including dinners, drinks and late-night hangouts, which Steven’s mates in the Chris Sligh band later described as overly intimate. The band was opening for the Newsboys.
“Most of the time, big stars do not hang around and watch the opener show,” lead singer Chris Sligh told TRR. “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.”
One night after drinking at Tait’s home, Steven said he received a foot massage from Tait before passing out -- only to awaken hours later to Tait “fondling my genitals, and then he was also kissing my mouth.” Steven “tried to pull away multiple times to stop Tait’s behavior” but “it didn’t work,” TRR reported.
“I started stirring, and he kept kissing me while touching my penis,” Steven said. “Eventually, I just moved my head, and he stopped, and then he just kind of froze, too.”
Embarrassed and fearful of professional repercussions, Steven initially shared only partial details with his bandmates -- about Tait allegedly giving him a foot massage -- and only told his then-girlfriend about what allegedly happened next.
“The only time that I even approached the topic with [Tait] was about a week or two later,” Steven said. “We went out to a bar in east Nashville. When we were walking in, I was like, ‘Hey, man [I] feel like I kind of need an apology.’ He was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ And I was like, ‘What happened?’ He [said], ‘Oh yeah, sorry about that,’ and then brushed it off like it wasn’t even a thought.”
Steven eventually left Christian music.
A similar incident happened years earlier when a worship musician -- identified as “Phillip” -- met Tait during a 2004 tour stop and viewed their budding connection as a mentoring relationship. After staying in touch for about a year, Tait invited Phillip to Nashville twice. During the second visit, in 2005, what began as casual camaraderie in a late-night party took a troubling turn after Tait and others at the party went skinny dipping in Tait’s spa, Phillip said. Soon, the others left, leaving only Phillip and Tait. As the two sat in a hot tub, Tait began giving Phillip a massage, he said. Moments later, Tait allegedly showed Phillip his genitals.
Phillip said he ended up sharing a bed with Tait after being told there were no spare rooms. As they settled in, Tait allegedly began giving Phillip an unsolicited back rub that became increasingly inappropriate, Phillip said. The massage drifted lower until Tait was touching his buttocks, he said. Frozen and unsure how to respond without damaging the friendship, Phillip hesitated to speak up. When Tait allegedly inserted his fingers into Phillip’s anal region, Phillip told him to stop. Tait apologized and rolled over, Phillip said.
The two didn’t talk again.
Another incident allegedly happened in 2014, when a crew member identified as “Taylor” alleges he was sexually assaulted by Tait. On the night in question, Taylor and Tait were the last ones awake on the tour bus after a group outing, where many on the bus were drunk. According to Taylor, he went to sleep -- only to awaken moments later to find Tait rubbing his genitals over his pants.
Frozen in shock, Taylor subtly shifted to give the impression he was waking up, prompting Tait to leave, Taylor said.
Taylor’s wife said the couple came forward in solidarity with others who have similar allegations.
“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,” Taylor’s wife told TRR. “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].”
The Newsboys released a statement on social media.
“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,” the statement said.
“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 four of us are husbands and fathers. Between the four of us, we have fourteen children. Our wives and children have made many sacrifices while we have dedicated our lives to playing music together that glorifies God. 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.
“When he left the band in January,” the statement concluded, “Michael confessed to us and our management that he ‘had been living a double-life’ but we never imagined that it could be this bad.”
Related Article: Newsboys' Tour Canceled after Troubling Revelation about Lead Singer's Exit
Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Annette Holloway
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published June 05, 2025.
