When the shepherd gets lost…

PHOTO | FILE Willy Paul.

What you need to know:

  • To err is human but why do we hold some people on a higher moral pedestal than others? Judy Wanja looks at gospel artistes who have fallen by the wayside.

In 2011, the American gospel music industry was thrown into a spin when two gospel music artistes who had been married for 15 years divorced. Gospel superstars Deitrik and Damita Haddon shocked the world when they went their separate ways and even more drama was to follow when it was revealed that one of them had cheated.

The rumour mill had it that Damita filed for the divorce after she found out that Deitrik had been cheating on her with another woman and even got her pregnant.

That rumour persisted and it looked as if Deitrik had confirmed the rumour with his long silence. He would only insist that he was a very private person, adding that fans shouldn’t expect to hear him speak about the divorce unless God had him share the experience.

Well, it seems God finally spoke to him because a year later he released another statement on his Facebook page stating that it was time to come clean. He said that it was Damita who triggered the divorce, and that she was having a sexual affair with gospel artiste Isaac Carree, who is also married.

Haddon said that he did not have anything personal against Isaac and that he forgave him and only asked him to come clean and to apologise to his fans.

Carree, without confirming or denying the allegations termed Deitrik’s accusations as “hurtful”.

“It has been brought to my attention that Deitrick Haddon recently made some very hurtful statements about me. I, as well as my wife, are both shocked and confused by Deitrick’s actions,” Carree said.

“It saddens me that he would seek to engage in mudslinging with me, especially because he and I have spoken openly and honestly about this, even long before his allegations.”

Tye Tribbett, yet another highly respected top gospel artist in the US, was caught cheating on his wife who also revenged by cheating on him. What many did not know was that Tribbett’s affair was with a woman he says he and his wife had counselled. He said this led to them taking a break from their marriage and he even contemplated suicide.

“I thought it was something that would never happen. I saw infidelity with my mom and dad, who was a pastor, which made them split. I told myself that I would never do that. So when it happened in my marriage, it was like “whoa!” God broke down my self-righteousness, my pride.”

Tribett said lust is what ultimately led him to cheat on his spouse before his wife retaliated.

“Joyce Meyers gave the best explanation of what my situation was about. She said lust has no conscience. It doesn’t care if you’re married, doesn’t care about your responsibility, doesn’t care if you’re a pastor. It wants what it wants when it wants. It doesn’t have to be because of lack for lust to take hold.”

When a gospel artiste is caught veering off the straight and narrow, the public is usually shocked and dismayed as these individuals are placed on a higher morality pedestal than other stars.

In Kenya, many gospel stars have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar and while the public does forgive them, they never forget and questions always linger.

Willy Paul is gospel music’s bad boy following allegations that he has had an affair with a minor and been caught having sex in public. The allegations have not been confirmed or denied, but they have not yet damaged his reputation.

Singer Neema is probably tired of talking about her pregnancy which happened almost six years ago. In a recent interview with this magazine, she said “In the seven years since this ‘controversy of my life’ I have given countless interviews on the issue. I’ve never been secretive about it but now, in respect, for my future and for the cross that took it all away, I don’t wish to revisit it.”

Singer Tony of MOG was caught pants down when he was accused of impregnating a girl who decided to expose him through the radio, causing him endless grief. He opted to have the matter die down but it does come up every once in a while.

Born again rapper DNA couldn’t handle the pressure of staying on the straight and narrow and decided not to lock himself in the “gospel music box” and went ahead to release the hit song ‘Maswali ya Polisi’. At least he was frank and honest enough with himself and his fans to have everything out in the open and not hide the fact that he wanted to profit from his career and gospel music just wasn’t doing it for him.

Mavuno Church’s Pastor Benson Xavier looks at the issue differently. “About Willy Paul, the challenge here is that these are only allegations and my suggestion is that he clears things with his home church because that is where he is a member. Whether he is a celeb or not, the people in his home church would know him better and are best placed to support him through these difficult times,” says Pastor Benson, popularly known as “Pastor BX”.

“When a Christian falls it is called a scandal. I don’t think that should be the case. It seems as if we are shocked by, uncomfortable with, and sometimes deny the humanity of saints. We cannot expect Christians to be perfect. When you consider Biblical characters you find many who fell and yet God was not surprised. Therefore, Christianity should be viewed as the faith of those who fall and get back again.”

Fletcher Scottish politician, Andrew Fletcher once said, “The role of the gospel music industry and musicians is to wield the power they now have to build the nation and extend God’s domain. They should add to great talent solid character which comes from consistent church attendance, humble service especially within a local church, accountability and mentorship.”