Jonah Kirsten Sorrentino (50), better known by his Christian hip-hop (CHH) alias KJ-52, recently told his social media followers that he never witnessed former DC Talk and Newsboys singer Michael Tait do cocaine or act sexually inappropriate.
On Jan. 16, Tait abruptly announced that he was leaving Newsboys. He had been the band’s lead singer since 2009. 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.
In a statement released on June 10, 2025, Tait disputed certain details of the accusations that were brought against him but admitted to touching men in an “unwanted sexual way.”
“Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity are sadly, largely true,” Tait said in a statement he posted online. “For some two decades I used and abused cocaine, consumed far too much alcohol, and, at times, touched men in an unwanted sensual way.”
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In 2019, KJ-52 announced that he was retiring from touring and creating albums. When KJ-52 shared that his 25-year touring career was coming to an end, the CHH artist had released 14 albums and received six Dove Awards—four of which were for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year.
Since then, the “Do Yo Thang” rapper became the connections pastor at Christian Life Fellowship Church in Cape Coral, Florida, and has released five new albums and EPs.
KJ-52 was featured on Newsboys‘ rendition of DC Talk’s smash hit “Jesus Freak.” He also toured and shared a bus with Tait.
“I did two tours with Mike, shared a bus with him once, and any of the things that have been said I never saw,” KJ-52 said as he replied to a fan who asked, “How much did you know about Michael Tait’s behavior?”
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KJ-52 continued, “[I] never saw cocaine on the bus, never saw any of that stuff that’s been said.”
