Earlier this week, Newsboys owner Wes Campbell, who also founded the management company responsible for the band, announced in a letter that he was stepping down from his board position at the Gospel Music Association (GMA) after being accused of covering up Michael Tait’s alleged sexual misconduct.
Campbell also revealed that members of his own family have come forward as alleged victims of Tait’s abuse.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of alleged sexual assault that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
On Jan. 16, Tait abruptly announced that he was leaving Newsboys. He had been the band’s lead singer since 2009. Tait was previously a member of DC Talk, a band that has been on hiatus since 2000.
Since leaving Newsboys, Tait has been accused of grooming, sexually assaulting, and drugging young men—including minors—as well as of watching a young woman be raped in 2014.
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According its website, GMA’s mission is to “expose, promote and celebrate the Gospel through music,” as well as to serve “the richly diverse creatives and professionals within the Christian and Gospel music industry by preserving the legacies of those who’ve gone before us and celebrating the work of today’s artists.”
Campbell, who had been serving in the first year of a three-year term on the GMA board, addressed his letter to board Vice Chairman Bill Reeves, GMA Foundation Chairman Zach Wamp, and the GMA Foundation board of directors.
“Given the most recent accusations against me personally related to a supposed coverup of allegations surrounding Michael Tait and his time as frontman for the Newsboys,” Campbell wrote, “I submit this letter notifying you that I am stepping down from the board so as not to become a distraction.”
The Newsboys’ owner shared that he believes “strongly” in the work of the GMA and its “mission to build the CGM Museum.” But he informed them, “I clearly cannot continue in my current role for the foreseeable future.”
RELATED: Michael Tait Accused of Watching Sexual Assault of a Young Woman He Drugged
Campbell told the board that due to allegations that have been reported on various news sites, his brother Steve “has been placed on leave pending the results of an internal investigation about his knowledge of Tait’s actions on the road.”
“At the conclusion of the full investigation, I will submit a detailed report to GMA President, Jackie Patillo,” Campbell said and before praising her leadership. “[Jackie] has shown great leadership in our industry; her record of excellence with impartiality speaks for itself, and I will submit the report along with access to all staff so she can independently review our findings.”
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