Rhett Walker Defends Gospel-Centered Artists in Wake of Tait’s Alleged Crimes
CCM artist Rhett Walker recently issued a rebuke to those condemning Christian music due to the recent scandal surrounding ex-Newsboys singer Michael Tait.
"My calling is my job," he wrote. "So I do have to pay bills, and this is what pays my bills. I hope your calling is also your job. If a plumber has the same allegations and they are true, once again …jail. But I don't cancel the plumbing industry. The sin has consequences. It feels weak to hate an industry because of bad people inside it. Stand up and call out the bad people!"
Per Faithwire, he noted that there are people "like me" within CCM who "care about sharing the Gospel through music."
He added, "I know a lot of artists, radio peeps, promoters, and so forth that are about sharing the Gospel."
He also stressed that fame has never been a priority to him.
"I'm a believer, a husband, and a father," he wrote. "I don't care to be famous."
However, he countered the claim that the CCM is "only about money and so forth."
Walker also responded to one of his followers on Instagram, who believes all of CCM "needs to be purged" and that there's "no way" that Tait's former bandmates were unaware of what was happening.
"As an outsider and person who purchased tickets multiple times, it's disappointing that excessive drinking was a norm on the bus, much less the drugs," wrote the follower. "If the other members knew these allegations or problems and didn't say a word, it's disgusting. Asbury said everyone knew. Who knows. Everyone knows now."
He continued, "[T]he higher-ups in the industry and labels should be questioned and purged. If upper management …allowed this, there is no telling what else is being allowed out there."
Although Walker "100%" agrees that those close to Tait should be "questioned," he also warned against letting Tait's actions smear everyone in the CCM industry.
"[L]et's just call a spade a spade and move forward," wrote Walker. "Saying the CCM industry is a problem is putting all artists on the same platform a[s] the ones who do terrible things."
Walker's remarks come after Tait was accused of a number of actions, including drugs, alcohol, and sexual assault. In response to the allegations, Tait issued a confession stating that the allegations were "mostly true" and that he abruptly left the Newsboys in January to seek treatment. He also was recently alleged of watching a woman get raped by a technician during a Newsboy's tour in 2014.
The scandal has led Capitol Christian Music to drop Newsboys from its label, while K–Love pulled songs from Newsboys and DC Talk, which Tait was a part of, from its rotation.
Several other artists and Christians have commented on the issue, including Paramore singer Hayley Williams, who responded to the Tait scandal on Instagram stories by stating that she hopes "the CCM industry crumbles." She also blamed the CCM industry for not providing Tait with "gay-affirming support."
Meanwhile, Christian singer-songwriter Cory Asbury wrote an Instagram story noting that everyone "knew about" about the allegations against Tait in response to a follower who asked 'Christian' bands/artists are living a double life like Michael Tait[?]."
Christian apologist Mike Winger, who posted Asbury's comments on his post, explained that perhaps the reason Tait was able to get away with his actions for so long "is because a whole lot of other people in his industry are also getting away with it and this results in a culture where exposing anyone is seen as a threat to everyone."
Maybe the reason Michael Tait got away with it for so long is because a whole lot of other people in his industry are also getting away with it and this results in a culture where exposing anyone is seen as a threat to everyone. pic.twitter.com/cb099C4LcK
— Mike Winger (@MikeWingerii) June 17, 2025
Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Rhett Walker
Originally published June 26, 2025.
