Comedian John Crist has expressed his disapproval for the way he was ‘canceled’ four years ago following multiple allegations of sexual predation, telling The Christian Post in a puff profile lauding him for his accomplishments and deft navigation of the Christian culture, “I don’t agree with the way it was done.”
Four years ago, Crist was at the apex of his career, poised for significant success with a Netflix special and a book deal until his reputation tanked and burst into flames after allegations of sexual misconduct came to light.
A popular Christian entertainer known for his comedy routines and hip ethos, Crist’s life came to a grinding halt in late 2019 after Charisma News broke the story that a plethora of women were alleging some very unsavory things about him going back nearly a decade, including harassing and manipulating young women, sexting multiple partners at the same time, committing unrelenting acts of adultery and fornication, bragging about his conquests, and bribing women with tickets to his shows in exchange for sexual favors.
Charisma did some excellent reporting; they had the pictures, texts, and receipts to prove it, sharing that many people knew about it but said nothing and kept promoting him, including folks like Jon Acuff.
Unfortunately, Crist barely copped to the allegations in the Charisma piece, immediately releasing a statement to the magazine where, with a pretty stellar euphemism, he acknowledged:
“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.”
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.
Stunning and brave. This non-apology apology might as well have said, “I’m sorry that the women were offended by my actions,” for how insincere and evasive it was. By being vague about the extent and scope of these charges, one could easily surmise that only one or two stories are kind of true and the rest are made up accusations by scorned and hysterical women that can be rightfully brushed off or given the skeptical side eye.
This is what lack of clarity and accountability does. Is the sin and guilt he’s copping to about treating women recklessly, or is it specifically about engaging in years of predatory behavior with multiple victims; actions that can only be done when one’s conscience is deeply seared?
Soon after, he disappeared to get “healing” for sex addiction, claimed in the process that he almost killed himself (a tactic manipulators use to garner sympathy), and hid out of sight for a while, waiting for the requisite year to pass so that he could emerge back into the limelight to declare that he was now restored and ready to return to evangelicalism’s good graces.
Sixteen months later, he was back on the circuit, emerging from his imposed exile (made easy by the pandemic) and playing sold-out shows to undiscerning Christians eager to forget all the creepy, pervy, manipulations he did and never apologized for or addressed a year and a half prior.
In an article by Leah MarieAnn Klett, almost none of this comes up. Instead, while discussing his new humorous video and all the ways he successfully navigates “the often tricky waters of humor within the Christian community” and “comically pinpoints the stereotypical elements found in many Christian music videos — the conflicts, the spiritual epiphanies, and the almost instantaneous resolutions” while using his “comedic role as a mechanism to keep everyone honest,” she briefly notes the strike against him.
Crist said he came up with the idea for the music video in 2019 during a four-month stay in a treatment facility. His tenure came after Charisma Magazine reported allegations of sexual misconduct toward young female fans.
While one would have hoped she wouldn’t have glossed over that last point when writing a 1,250-word profile about how peaceful and prosperous Crist is, with his sold-out shows and a public that’s acted like nothing even happened, she quickly moved on, writing:
Crist said that while experiencing a public cancellation was “the worst thing on planet Earth” and “horrific,” it saved his life.
“I don’t agree with the way it was done, but it did save my life,” he said. “I’m now three and a half, four years past it, and I’ve been sober since that day.”
It’s a shame Crist is so displeased with how it played out. Perhaps he can tell us how it should have been done in a way that would have better suited his tastes and disposition, that would have disrupted his life far less, and which he might find more agreeable. Maybe he can point out which verse in the scriptures we see David pouting about the prophet Nathan’s tactics that led to his exposure and downfall, grumbling about being tricked by questions of lamb ownership and made-up scenarios.
Furthermore, this is not Crist being ‘canceled,’ as much as he may want to appropriate that label for clout and sympathy. Instead, churches disinviting him in light of multiple allegations of gross sin over a decade is a just consequence and a proper response to a professing believer playing the part of a pagan while engaging in sexual hedonism.
Besides, we don’t know what Crist is complaining about, as after only a year and a half in the theological doghouse, when he couldn’t perform anyway because of the COVID-19 lockdowns, he emerged more loved and more popular than ever, while a the same time balking at the suggestion that his actions towards those women made him a “trash dude.”
He accomplished this without ever acknowledging the extent of the allegations against him, sneaking by with only vague confessions of “treat(ing) relationships with women far too casually” before being quickly restored to a position of prominence and celebrity, all predations forgotten.
Now that’s funny.
