Michael Tait Faces New Serious Allegations as Investigation Continues
According to a recent investigation by The Guardian, at least three men claimed that former Newsboys singer and DC Talk co-founder Michael Tait assaulted them in the early 2000s, while four others reported being subjected to inappropriate touching and advances. The report by The Guardian was drawn from months of research and featured interviews with at least 25 individuals involved in modern Christian music, several of whom referred to Tait's actions as the "biggest open secret in Christian music."
One man, Shawn Davis, told the outlet that he met Tait in 2003 when he was 16, The Christian Post reported. He considered the singer a hero at the time and shared how they went out to bars and parties, and Tait would buy him drinks. Davis also alleged that Tait introduced him to cocaine at his home.
During one night at Tait's home, Davis, who was then 17, shared that Tait gave him a drink that tasted strange, and he lost consciousness. After waking up, Davis said he was in a closet with Tait, performing sexual acts on him.
"This man destroyed my life," Davis contended.
Another man, known as "Gabriel," whose real name was not revealed, shared he met Tait when he was 19 and that Tait drugged him before sexually assaulting him in 2003.
The resulting trauma left Davis blaming God for the incident.
"Tait was presented as the pinnacle of godliness," he said. "I get that all people sin, but to use the facade of his righteousness to commit sin, that made me walk away from my faith for a while. He took something from me I'll never get back. In time, though, I found my own way back to God."
Meanwhile, Israel Anthem, a Nashville-based videographer, told the Guardian that Tait allegedly masturbated in front of him in a public restroom when he was 13.
Speaking also to The Roys Report, Anthem said, "Knowledge about Tait's predator behavior is so intrinsic to Christian music, his nails are burrowed into the fabric of it, that any validation of his behavior invalidates the whole industry."
"There are three types of people in Nashville: Those who know the stories about Tait, are survivors and are terrified; Those who validate the stories about Tait, believe them to be true and wait for the day justice happens; And those who will cash a check with Tait despite knowing the truth."
Earlier this month, The Roys Report released an investigative report that Tait abused drugs and alcohol and sexually assaulted young men in the past two decades. Days following the release of the investigation, Tait issued a confession stating that the allegations against him were "largely true" and that his abrupt departure from the Newsboys in January was to seek treatment.
"I'm ashamed to admit that for years, I have lied and deceived my family, friends, fans, and even misled my bandmates about aspects of my life. I was, for the most part, living two distinctly different lives," he wrote on Instagram. "I was not the same person on stage Sunday night that I was at home on Monday. I was violating everything I was raised to believe by my God-fearing Dad and Mom about walking with Jesus and was grieving the very God I loved and sang about for most of my life. By His grace, I can say that for the past six months, I have lived a singular life—one of utter brokenness and total dependence on a loving and merciful God."
He also shared he has been six months sober after completing six weeks of rehab in Utah.
"I have been clean and sober since, though I still have lots of hard work ahead of me," he wrote.
"I have hurt so many people in so many ways, and I will live with that shameful reality the rest of my life," he said. "I want to say I'm sorry to everyone I have hurt. I am truly sorry."
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Jason Davis/Stringer
Originally published June 18, 2025.
