John Crist Speaks Out 8 Months After Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Christian comedian John Crist has spoken out for the first time eight months after multiple accusations of unwanted sexting, harassment, and manipulation. The 36-year-old posted a video to Facebook on Wednesday saying he spent the past eight months "getting help" for his "problem," including four months in a treatment facility, and that he plans to continue the recovery process. He did not name the facility or program through which he received treatment.

In a video shared to Facebook on Wednesday titled, "A message from me," Crist began by expressing thanks for the "undeserved" support he received and said he was in a treatment facility for four months."I had assumed that I had lived in a community of people that would be the first to look down on me, and judge me and point fingers at me, and I felt nothing but the opposite through this whole process," he said.

Crist went on to say that he "made a lot of poor choices in my personal life."

"I made a lot of decisions that hurt myself, that hurt other people and embarrassed myself and had consequences, and I can look you in the eye and own that," he continued.

"I think at the beginning of this process, I wanted to hop on the Internet, justify, and rationalize and minimize and kind of explain and defend myself," he said. "And coming all the way through the healing and recovery process, I can look at you eight months later and say those choices were on me. Those decisions were mine, and no one else's and no one else is to be blamed ... I point the fingers at no one else but myself."

Last year, according to Charisma News, five woman accused Crist of initiating sexual relationships with married women, sexting, offering show tickets in exchange for sex, and contacting women while drunk. Crist also used his celebrity to exploit at least five women over the last seven years.

"The allegations include, but are not limited to, individually sexting multiple women during the same time period," reporter Taylor Berglund wrote, "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."

Five women shared their stories with Charisma, and the magazine independently verified substantial portions of their accounts. The women believed that sharing their stories could protect others from Crist's manipulative behavior.

In an official statement to Charisma, Crist has said that he is not guilty of everything he's been accused of, but did admit to "sexual sin and addiction struggles."

"I have violated my own Christian beliefs, convictions and values, and have hurt many people in the process," Crist wrote in his statement. "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."

 

 

 

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