Last week, a court in Sydney, Australia, acquitted the founder of the global megachurch Hillsong of covering up his father’s child sexual abuse in the 1970s.
The ruling found that Brian Houston had followed his father’s victim Brett Sengstock‘s request to not report the abuse to the police. Magistrate Gareth Christofi said there was “little doubt” Houston knew Sengstock did not want the abuse to be reported and thus “had a reasonable excuse for not bringing the matter to the attention of police.”
Houston addressed reporters on Thursday, saying, “A lot of people’s lives have been tragically hurt, and for that, I’ll always be very sad. But I am not my father. I did not commit this offense.”
Sengstock was in the court to hear the verdict. He previously recalled during the trial that he was repeatedly raped by Houston’s father, Frank Houston.
After the ruling,...
The ruling found that Brian Houston had followed his father’s victim Brett Sengstock‘s request to not report the abuse to the police. Magistrate Gareth Christofi said there was “little doubt” Houston knew Sengstock did not want the abuse to be reported and thus “had a reasonable excuse for not bringing the matter to the attention of police.”
Houston addressed reporters on Thursday, saying, “A lot of people’s lives have been tragically hurt, and for that, I’ll always be very sad. But I am not my father. I did not commit this offense.”
Sengstock was in the court to hear the verdict. He previously recalled during the trial that he was repeatedly raped by Houston’s father, Frank Houston.
After the ruling,...
- 8/22/2023
- by Alex Nguyen
- Uinterview
The founder of Hillsong Church, Brian Houston, was found not guilty by an Australian court for covering up his late father’s, preacher Frank Houston, sex abuse allegations.
Brian worked as a senior global pastor in Sydney but was forced to step down after he was accused in 2021. After being charged, he maintained that he was innocent asserting the “charges have come as a shock to me. I vehemently profess my innocence and will defend these charges, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.”
Officials issued a statement in 2021 that read, “Police will allege in court [Houston] knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that information to the attention of police.”
It was ruled on Thursday by Syndey Magistrate Gareth Christofi that Brian had good reason not to share this sexual abuse as he believed the...
Brian worked as a senior global pastor in Sydney but was forced to step down after he was accused in 2021. After being charged, he maintained that he was innocent asserting the “charges have come as a shock to me. I vehemently profess my innocence and will defend these charges, and I welcome the opportunity to set the record straight.”
Officials issued a statement in 2021 that read, “Police will allege in court [Houston] knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that information to the attention of police.”
It was ruled on Thursday by Syndey Magistrate Gareth Christofi that Brian had good reason not to share this sexual abuse as he believed the...
- 8/18/2023
- by Nina Hauswirth
- Uinterview
Chris Pratt is refuting any association with the Hillsong Church. As the Australia-based megachurch continues to face controversy, the Guardians of the Galaxy star denied ever being a part of its congregation, saying, "I never went to Hillsong." "I've never actually been to Hillsong," he told Men's Health in its July/August issue. "I don't know anyone from that church." Pratt's denial of his involvement in Hillsong, whose co-founder Brian Houston resigned in March amid allegations of inappropriate behavior toward two women, comes more than three years after actor Elliot Page accused him of being a part of an...
- 6/29/2022
- E! Online
James Gunn came to Chris Pratt’s defense amid the long-standing backlash against the actor for being the “worst” Hollywood Chris stacked against Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and Chris Pine.
“It absolutely infuriates me,” Gunn told Men’s Health about the viral criticisms of Pratt. “Chris is unspeakably kind to people; he goes out of his way to help kids. He’s an especially loving father. And there’s a lot of stuff that people have literally just made up about him — about his politics, about who he is, about what he believes of other people, you know?”
Pratt’s alleged involvement in Los Angeles-based Hillsong Church became the center of the anti-Pratt hate on social media, with transgender actor Elliot Page publicly calling out Pratt for being involved in a famously anti-lgbtq+ organized religion.
“I never went to Hillsong. I’ve never actually been to Hillsong. I don’t know anyone from that church,...
“It absolutely infuriates me,” Gunn told Men’s Health about the viral criticisms of Pratt. “Chris is unspeakably kind to people; he goes out of his way to help kids. He’s an especially loving father. And there’s a lot of stuff that people have literally just made up about him — about his politics, about who he is, about what he believes of other people, you know?”
Pratt’s alleged involvement in Los Angeles-based Hillsong Church became the center of the anti-Pratt hate on social media, with transgender actor Elliot Page publicly calling out Pratt for being involved in a famously anti-lgbtq+ organized religion.
“I never went to Hillsong. I’ve never actually been to Hillsong. I don’t know anyone from that church,...
- 6/28/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Hillsong is best known as the international church that has attracted a flock of A-list attendees, including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Kevin Durant, and Kylie and Kendall Jenner. When Dan Johnstone first approached making a documentary about the church — the three-part Discovery Plus docuseries “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed” — however, his interest was far more wide-ranging.
“I was a child of the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Johnstone said in his first interview about the project, which he executive produced. “I was, like, a huge sneakerhead; I’m into music, I’m into fashion. I grew up in a religious household. And so I sort of followed Hillsong, and I just saw this church that had crossed through all of those barriers.”
Having worked with Discovery on two previous projects, Johnstone and his company Breaklight Pictures set out to tell the story of how Hillsong — the popular, scandal-plagued church...
“I was a child of the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Johnstone said in his first interview about the project, which he executive produced. “I was, like, a huge sneakerhead; I’m into music, I’m into fashion. I grew up in a religious household. And so I sort of followed Hillsong, and I just saw this church that had crossed through all of those barriers.”
Having worked with Discovery on two previous projects, Johnstone and his company Breaklight Pictures set out to tell the story of how Hillsong — the popular, scandal-plagued church...
- 3/14/2022
- by Kate Aurthur
- Variety Film + TV
Current Hillsong megachurch leader Brian Houston is facing criminal charges in connection to his late father’s history of child sexual abuse. Police in Australia alleged that Brian confronted his father Frank Houston about molesting children, but, when he admitted to it, did not attempt to contact the authorities. The New South Wales police, who charged […]
The post Hillsong Church Leader Brian Houston Charged With Concealing Child Sex Abuse appeared first on uInterview.
The post Hillsong Church Leader Brian Houston Charged With Concealing Child Sex Abuse appeared first on uInterview.
- 8/8/2021
- by Madeline Hoverkamp
- Uinterview
Hillsong Church co-founder Brian Houston is speaking out further about the controversy and firing of former pastor Carl Lentz, one of the global megachurch's pastors famous for his celebrity following. The disgraced figure was terminated in November from Hillsong East Coast, the group's New York-based branch. At the time, Houston said in a statement that Lentz's firing followed "leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures." Lentz himself later wrote on Instagram that he had been unfaithful in his marriage to wife Laura, mother of their three children, adding, "This failure is on me, and me alone and I take full responsibility for my...
- 5/19/2021
- E! Online
Carl Lentz is seeking treatment after he was fired from Hillsong Church for "moral failures." Multiple media outlets have reported that Lentz is getting help at an outpatient facility that focuses on treating depression, anxiety and "pastoral burnout." Both People and Page Six cited sources in reporting on this development. E! News has reached out to Lentz's representative for comment and has not yet heard back. Hillsong Church Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston released a statement on Nov. 4 to announce that Lentz had been let go from the church. Houston listed "a recent revelation of moral failures" as among the reasons for the...
- 12/9/2020
- E! Online
The founder of Hillsong church is claiming that disgraced pastor Carl Lentz had "more than one" affair, according to an alleged audio recording obtained by Page Six. The leaked audio allegedly recorded a conversation between Hillsong Church Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston, church leaders and donors around Nov. 19. Houston told the execs that Lentz, the New York-based celebrity pastor, had multiple affairs, according to Page Six, which also reports that he is in talks to receive a severance package. "A staff member found a very compromising chain of text messages on Carl's laptop... [We] drove right across town to talk to Carl and confront him and that was the beginning...
- 12/4/2020
- E! Online
Carl Lentz is speaking out following his firing from the position of lead pastor for the Hillsong Church in New York City. On Thursday, Nov. 5, the 41-year-old shared a statement to his Instagram explaining the "moral failures" that Hillsong Church Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston said were the cause of his termination. He began his post by reflecting on the time he served the celebrity-adored church, writing, "Our time at HillsongNYC has come to an end. This is a hard ending to what has been the most amazing, impacting and special chapter of our lives. Leading this church has been an honor in every sense of the word and it is impossible to articulate...
- 11/5/2020
- E! Online
Carl Lentz, a pastor for the megachurch Hillsong who has celebrity friends and followers, has been fired. In a statement released Nov. 4, Hillsong Church Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston said, "This action was not taken lightly and was done in the best interests of everyone, including Pastor Carl." While Houston didn't share specifics, he claimed "this action has been taken following ongoing discussions in relation to leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures." "It would not be appropriate for us to go into detail about the events that led to this decision," he continued. "Our focus at this time is to honor God and pastorally...
- 11/5/2020
- E! Online
Amy Berg, the documentarian behind such acclaimed films as Deliver Us From Evil, West of Memphis and Janis: Little Girl Blue, has absolutely nothing against Chris Pratt. In fact, she strongly disagrees with that other Amy Berg who inadvertently launched the whole Cancel/Don’t Cancel Chris twitstorm that got so out of hand the Avengers themselves came to their costar’s rescue.
“What a way to wake up,” documentarian Berg tweeted this morning. “This is not me. Hundreds of hate messages on all social media platforms! I strongly disagree with this Amy Berg’s tweet and not a big fan of cancel culture. Thank you. #ChrisPratt”
Even the other Amy Berg, a TV producer and writer, is saying enough is enough. Yesterday, she tweeted, “We managed to turn a Chris ‘snack’ joke into attacks and threats by right-wingers….Seriously, enough.
“What a way to wake up,” documentarian Berg tweeted this morning. “This is not me. Hundreds of hate messages on all social media platforms! I strongly disagree with this Amy Berg’s tweet and not a big fan of cancel culture. Thank you. #ChrisPratt”
Even the other Amy Berg, a TV producer and writer, is saying enough is enough. Yesterday, she tweeted, “We managed to turn a Chris ‘snack’ joke into attacks and threats by right-wingers….Seriously, enough.
- 10/21/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Justin Bieber’s Ex-Choreographer Emma Portner Slams Him for 'Degrading Women' Amid Taylor Swift Feud
Justin Bieber’s former collaborator Emma Portner is speaking out against him.
Just a day after the “Sorry” singer shared a statement on Instagram in defense of his longtime manager, Scooter Braun, who Taylor Swift has accused of “manipulative bullying” in wake of him purchasing Big Machine Label Group and her master recordings, the dancer and choreographer — who worked on Bieber’s Purpose World Tour and stars in his 2015 “Life Is Worth Living” music video — shared her own message on Monday in which she alleged that she made “less than minimum wage” while working for Bieber, 25, and slammed the way...
Just a day after the “Sorry” singer shared a statement on Instagram in defense of his longtime manager, Scooter Braun, who Taylor Swift has accused of “manipulative bullying” in wake of him purchasing Big Machine Label Group and her master recordings, the dancer and choreographer — who worked on Bieber’s Purpose World Tour and stars in his 2015 “Life Is Worth Living” music video — shared her own message on Monday in which she alleged that she made “less than minimum wage” while working for Bieber, 25, and slammed the way...
- 7/2/2019
- by Brianne Tracy
- PEOPLE.com
Chris Pratt is defending his church after Ellen Page called it out for being “infamously anti-Lgbtq” in a tweet.
The 39-year-old actor, who predominately attends the popular Hillsong Church, shared a lengthy comment on his Instagram Story on Monday in which he denied Page’s claims.
“It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which “hates a certain group of people” and is “infamously anti-lgbtq.” Nothing could be further from the truth,” he wrote. “I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone.”
Pratt referenced his divorce from Anna Faris last year as...
The 39-year-old actor, who predominately attends the popular Hillsong Church, shared a lengthy comment on his Instagram Story on Monday in which he denied Page’s claims.
“It has recently been suggested that I belong to a church which “hates a certain group of people” and is “infamously anti-lgbtq.” Nothing could be further from the truth,” he wrote. “I go to a church that opens their doors to absolutely everyone.”
Pratt referenced his divorce from Anna Faris last year as...
- 2/12/2019
- by Alexia Fernandez
- PEOPLE.com
Chris Pratt is squarely disputing Ellen Page's claim Hillsong Church -- to which he belongs -- is anti-Lgbtq ... but emphasizing he doesn't speak for the Church. The actor responded to Page's tweet last week calling Hillsong "anti Lgbtq" -- she doubled down over the weekend, saying there's no excuse for anyone patronizing an org that hates. If you are a famous actor and you belong to an organization that hates a certain group of people,...
- 2/11/2019
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Ellen Page on Thursday criticized Chris Pratt for attending a “infamously anti-Lgbtq” church after he appeared on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and discussed his religious side.
The “Guardians of the Galaxy” star sat down with Colbert to promote “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part,” and Pratt said he just finished a 21-day Daniel Fast that he took part in through his church and that his pastor encouraged. He also said the pastor shared with him words of wisdom about balancing fame and his inner self.
“If the spotlight that is shining on you is brighter than the light that’s within you, it will kill you,” Pratt recounted to Colbert.
Page tweeted about the appearance and the pastor shortly after, writing, “Oh. K. Um. But his church is infamously anti lgbtq so maybe address that too?”
Pratt attends Hillsong Church, which other celebrities like Kendall and...
The “Guardians of the Galaxy” star sat down with Colbert to promote “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part,” and Pratt said he just finished a 21-day Daniel Fast that he took part in through his church and that his pastor encouraged. He also said the pastor shared with him words of wisdom about balancing fame and his inner self.
“If the spotlight that is shining on you is brighter than the light that’s within you, it will kill you,” Pratt recounted to Colbert.
Page tweeted about the appearance and the pastor shortly after, writing, “Oh. K. Um. But his church is infamously anti lgbtq so maybe address that too?”
Pratt attends Hillsong Church, which other celebrities like Kendall and...
- 2/8/2019
- by Rachel Yang
- Variety Film + TV
Ellen Page put Chris Pratt on blast in a social media post sent to her 1.4 million Twitter followers that criticized his involvement with an “infamously” anti-Lgbtq church. Pratt appeared on the February 7 edition of CBS’ “The Late Show” to promote his animated sequel “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” and spoke to host Stephen Colbert about a recent fast he did that was inspired by his religion.
Pratt identifies as a non-denominational Christian. The actor’s church, Hillsong, has made headlines for not “affirming” the Lgbtq lifestyle. In a statement released in August 2015, Hillsong global pastor Brian Houston said he “holds to traditional Christian thought on gay lifestyles and gay marriage” and that “God’s word is clear that marriage is between a man and a woman.”
“Hillsong Church welcomes All people but does not affirm all lifestyles,” the statement reads. “Put clearly, we do not affirm a...
Pratt identifies as a non-denominational Christian. The actor’s church, Hillsong, has made headlines for not “affirming” the Lgbtq lifestyle. In a statement released in August 2015, Hillsong global pastor Brian Houston said he “holds to traditional Christian thought on gay lifestyles and gay marriage” and that “God’s word is clear that marriage is between a man and a woman.”
“Hillsong Church welcomes All people but does not affirm all lifestyles,” the statement reads. “Put clearly, we do not affirm a...
- 2/8/2019
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
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