John Crist, a Christian comedian and popular YouTube personality, has issued a lengthy statement and canceled his tour amid allegations that he to used his celebrity statis to sexually harass and exploit women.
Crist didn’t really deny these accusations in his statement, either.
The comedian has spoken out a day after a report published by Charisma News detailed claims made by five women against Crist.
The outlet writes that “Crist has exploited his Christian reputation and platform to harass, manipulate and exploit young women over the last seven years."
To quote from the report:
The allegations include, but are not limited to, individually sexting multiple women during the same time period, initiating sexual relationships with married women and women in committed relationships, offering show tickets in exchange for sexual favors and repeatedly calling these women late at night while drunk.
YIKES, huh?
Crist has more than 526,000 YouTube subscribers and over 1.3 million combined followers on Instagram and Twitter.
In response to the above article, Crist wrote the following to Charisma News:
"Over the past number of years, various women have accused me of behavior that has been hurtful to them.
"While I am not guilty of everything I’ve been accused of, I confess to being guilty of this — I have treated relationships with women far too casually, in some cases even recklessly."
Crist continued:
"My behavior has been destructive and sinful.
"I’ve sinned against God, against women and the people who I love the most. I have violated my own Christian beliefs, convictions and values, and have hurt many people in the process.
"I am sorry for the hurt and pain I have caused these women and will continue to seek their forgiveness.
"I have also hurt the name of Jesus and have sought His forgiveness."
Crist had been scheduled to film a Netflix special, but the company now says that program is on hold.
He further revealed in his statement that he has sought professional treatment to help with his “addiction struggles" and added:
"Over several recent years, I have privately sought and received regular professional treatment for my sexual sin and addiction struggles."
He didn’t go into much more detail about these struggles and/or what they entail.
More from his statement:
“I’m committed to getting healing and freedom from my sin and have decided to cancel my remaining tour dates this year and to postpone all future commitments in order to devote all my time and energy on getting healthy spiritually, mentally and physically."
Crist earned a spot on Pollstar’s Top 100 Tours Globally list in 2019, “with over 197,000 tickets sold for his ‘Human Being Tour,’” according to the star’s biography.
The 35-year-old comedian was most recently romantically linked to country singer and American Idol alum Lauren Alaina; they split in September.
According to Crist’s statement, "Those closest to me — my family, team and close friends — have known about this battle for some time, and now you do too."
And he concluded:
I don’t blame anyone but myself. I’m responsible for my actions and I’ve repented and am taking full ownership.
I realize it will be difficult for some people to ever forgive me, and I accept that as a result of my bad decisions and actions.
My entire career has been lived out on stage, and even though I’ve shared many of my life struggles with my audiences, I’ve lived in constant fear of the darkest parts of my life being exposed publicly.
My greatest fear has been that those who have loved and supported me would hate me if they knew everything about me.
I now humbly seek forgiveness and mercy and love — not just for me, but for those I’ve hurt along my path. I’m so sorry.