Audience members at the Elevate Music Festival were met with emotional statements from the Newsboys after the band publicly addressed sexual misconduct allegations against former lead singer Michael Tait.

According to the Christian Post, the Christian rock group revealed on June 9 that they had been dropped by their record label, faced widespread cancellations, and experienced personal fallout following Tait’s admission to decades of harmful behavior.

The Elevate Music Festival, held from June 7–9, 2024, at Highlands Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, served as the first time the Newsboys discussed the issue at a public event. During their performance, current frontman Adam Agee acknowledged the devastating effect on the band’s community and careers.

"We've been dropped from our record label," Agee told the crowd, referencing Capitol Christian Music Group’s decision to sever ties. The band also noted that various radio outlets, including the major Christian network K-LOVE, had stopped airing their music in the wake of the allegations.

Agee added that tour promoters and venues from around the world had pulled out of their scheduled events. “We've had radio stations pull our music. We've been cancelled by promoters and venues all over the world," he said.

Confession Surfaces After Months Of Silence

The controversy follows Tait’s departure from the band in January 2024 due to personal difficulties and a decision to enter rehab. At the time, the remaining members said they were unaware of the severity of his issues.

In a June 10 Instagram post, Tait admitted to patterns of self-destructive behavior over the past twenty years. He referenced substance abuse, sexual activity, and inappropriate touching of men in ways that were not consensual.

"We were shocked," Agee later said, recounting their reaction. At the time of Tait's exit, the band was told only about substance abuse and emotional struggles, with no indication of the full extent of his actions.

Investigations And Allegations From Former Tours

New details have also surfaced about a 2014 incident during the band’s "The Reason" Christmas tour in Fargo, North Dakota. A woman has accused Tait and a crew member of assaulting her after she was given alcohol by Tait and blacked out.

The woman claimed she regained consciousness during the act and saw Tait present. Matthew Brewer, a lighting technician, was allegedly with her and has denied wrongdoing, stating the encounter was consensual.

The tour manager at the time, Steve Campbell, is accused of covering up the incident. He has denied the claim. Video evidence reportedly shows Tait and Brewer escorting the woman to a hotel room, according to The Roys Report.

A Pattern Of Abuse Comes To Light

Authorities were contacted after the 2014 incident, and a police report was filed, though no charges were made and the case was ultimately shelved. However, the woman later received a confirmed diagnosis of sexual abuse through a medical exam.

Since Tait’s public confession, more than nine other individuals have come forward with their own accounts. Two allege that Tait secretly drugged them, while one former male crew member stated that Tait assaulted him on the band’s tour bus in 2014.

The Roys Report and The Guardian have published reports containing these allegations, some of which date back more than a decade. The mounting accusations have severely impacted the band’s standing in the Christian music world.

Band Members Grapple With Fallout

In their June 5, 2024, public statement, the Newsboys expressed deep sadness over the situation. “Our hearts were shattered when we read the news alleging drug abuse and inappropriate sexual actions by our former lead singer, Michael Tait,” the band wrote.

They went on to say, “We are devastated even by the implications of such behavior,” while emphasizing their support for those who had come forward. "If you are a victim, we urge you to come forward. We absolutely do not condone any form of sexual assault."

Speaking from the stage at Elevate Festival, Agee described the betrayal: “He was our family. He was our brother. We've got 14 kids between us, and he was a friend to our families… It just has been devastating for us."

Music Industry Reacts To The Scandal

The band’s music was pulled by various radio stations, including K-LOVE, one of the nation’s largest Christian networks. A K-LOVE spokesperson explained the decision, saying they had temporarily removed the Newsboys’ and DC Talk's music while evaluating the situation.

The network called this process “resting” the artist, a standard industry practice when serious allegations arise. K-LOVE said they would reassess airplay when more clarity is available, adding that the pause was also out of respect for listeners and those involved.

Despite the backlash, the band received an encouraging response from fans at Elevate. “But not tonight,” Agee said to a cheering crowd, emphasizing the band’s intention to carry on with purpose even amid personal and professional upheaval.

Band Pushes Ahead With Caution

Since Tait’s departure, Agee said the group has continued to perform and search for greater meaning in their work. “We felt like we still had a ministry and a mission to do,” he added, noting how they have found encouragement through the support of their community.

He also shared how the controversy has affected the band members’ children and families, saying, “Our families have felt like our names [have] just been dragged through the mud because of all this, and it's really, really hurt our kids.”

While the future of Newsboys remains uncertain, the band appears determined to move forward. The full impact of the allegations, however, continues to reverberate across the Christian music industry.