“Newsboys, led by co-founder Wes Campbell, filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee,” the statement said. “The Complaint names multiple defendants including The Roys Report, editor Julie Roys, and journalist Jessica Morris.”
Jessica Morris is the investigative journalist who broke the story of allegations against Tait.
“On advice of counsel, the organization has chosen not to comment beyond the filing itself. The full Complaint and all supporting materials, including exhibits, are available at www.newsboyslawsuit.com,” said Newsboys. “All interested parties, members of the press, and members of the public are encouraged there to review the filing in full.”
On the webpage, the band alleges that LiveCo/TPR operates as a monopolistic promoter in the Christian music space and unilaterally shut Newsboys out of the concert market.
Newsboys is also suing Christian humanitarian organization World Vision, which fundraises at LiveCo/TPR events. Newsboys accuses World Vision of “squeezing out other nonprofit support of artists, and nonprofit-intermediaries such as one of Campbell’s affiliated companies, which this Complaint alleges was targeted and has joined in the suit.”
Newsboys is alleging that The Roys Report of defamation “regarding a 2014 incident, when in reality, contemporaneous statements made to law enforcement contradicted those accusations.”
Newsboys is also accusing MercyMe and other Christians artists of breaching “contracts with Campbell-affiliated companies” and taking part in “the overall monopolistic scheme for LiveCo/TPR and World Vision to take control of nonprofit funding at CCM Concerts and separate the groups from Campbell-affiliation.”
“Newsboys and Campbell express appreciation for the continued support from their fans and stated that they intend to pursue their claims vigorously in federal court,” the band said.
