Two Additional Allegations Surface Against Former Newsboys Frontman Michael Tait

Two more men, including Jason Jones, founding manager of the band Evanescence, and Randall Crawford, a Nashville-based musician, have publicly accused former Newsboys lead singer Michael Tait of sexual assault. The alleged incidents occurred in the late 1990s and early 2000s and bring the total number of public allegations against Tait to eight.

Jones alleges that in 1998, while at Tait's Nashville home, he was incapacitated and awoke to Tait performing a sexual act without his consent. He further claims that after confiding in Evanescence co-founder Ben Moody about the assault, he was dismissed from his role as manager, a claim Moody denies.

Crawford recalls a 2000 encounter in which, after consuming a single drink, he blacked out and later discovered he had been assaulted. He says the experience left him with lasting trauma, derailed his career, and ultimately drove him to seek therapy.

These new reports follow a series of investigations by The Roys Report and The Guardian earlier this summer, which documented allegations from multiple men-two of whom were minors at the time-detailing patterns of grooming, drug-facilitated sexual encounters, and abuse spanning over two decades.

Tait previously issued a statement in June admitting that many of the accusations were "sadly, largely true," confessing to substance abuse, unwanted sexual advances, and leading a "double life." He announced his departure from Newsboys in January 2025 to focus on rehabilitation and healing.

In response to the escalating allegations, the remaining members of Newsboys expressed devastation and extended support to victims. Several major Christian radio networks, including K‑LOVE, have since removed Tait-associated music from rotation.

The Christian music industry continues to grapple with the fallout, as survivors and advocates call for greater accountability and support systems.

 

 

Tags : michael tait Newsboys Michael Tait sex scandal Evanescence Jason Jones Randall Crawford