Jones alleges that Tait sexually assaulted him in 1998 after a night of partying, during which he believes he was drugged. At the time, Jones was sober and a virgin, working alongside Ben Moody to co-produce Evanescence’s first demo.

Allegations Stem from Late 1990s Music Scene

Jones described waking up multiple times that night to discover Tait performing sexual acts on him. Despite pushing Tait away and refusing consent, Jones said he blacked out and awoke again to the same situation.

He said he went along with Tait’s behavior because of Tait’s influence in the music industry. Tait had introduced Jones and his band to key figures such as promoters and record label executives.

"It destroyed me," Jones told The Guardian. "I was achieving my dreams at an early age, and Tait changed all that," Jones said he spiraled into a five-year addiction to methamphetamine following the incident.

Jones's Connection to the Christian Music Industry

As a teenager in the early 1990s, Jones admired DC Talk, the popular Christian band that Tait helped lead. That admiration played a role in his willingness to overlook behaviors that made him uncomfortable at the time.

Jones explained that he felt honored by Tait’s attention, initially interpreting their closeness as friendship. Later, he said the abuse left him traumatized and disconnected from his career goals.

Ben Moody recalled that Jones began exhibiting erratic behavior soon afterward. “Looking back, I would've been a bit more attentive, but I was a typical 18-year-old who wanted to be a rockstar,” said Moody.

Confession Comes After Two-Year Investigation

Tait’s public confession in June 2025 followed a two-and-a-half-year investigation by The Roys Report into longstanding allegations of misconduct. In a lengthy Instagram post titled “My Confession,” Tait acknowledged that many claims were unfortunately accurate.

He admitted to touching men “in an unwanted, sensual way” and described his own behavior as destructive. Before the statement, Tait completed a six-week rehabilitation program in Utah.

In January 2025, Tait left the Newsboys abruptly, saying he was not well either physically or spiritually and needed to seek help. The band had long promoted messages of faith, purity, and sobriety.

New Allegations Add to Pattern of Accusations

Jones is among at least eight individuals who have accused Tait of sexual misconduct. Accusations include stories of drugging, coercion, and exploitation, many involving vulnerable young men in professional settings.

Randall Crawford, who was affiliated with DC Talk in 2000, said he blacked out after accepting a drink from Tait and then woke up to a sexual assault. “I believe we'd both be in the music industry today if it weren't for Michael Tait,” he said.

Other reports detail inappropriate behavior at Tait’s home in Nashville, where he allegedly enforced a “no clothes allowed” rule in his hot tub and encouraged sexual experimentation.

Christian Music Industry’s Secrets and Contradictions

Sources described a mismatch between Tait’s public image and his private conduct. One anonymous individual told The Guardian that Tait encouraged others in the hot tub to mimic his sexual behavior using the jets.

In one separate but related case, a woman reported that Tait provided a date-rape drug to a crew member who then allegedly assaulted her during a Newsboys tour.

For Jones, the experience permanently altered the trajectory of his career. “I had this band that I was trying to take places,” he said. “And [Tait] had the power to open doors for us in the industry. So I went along with whatever, but didn’t know what it would cost me.”