Bishop T.D. Jakes has broken his silence on allegations linking him to under-fire rapper and business mogul, Sean Diddy Combs.
In a statement believed to be coming from the representative of the televangelist, the alleged claims making rounds on social media were said to be “unequivocally false and baseless”.
The alleged rumor about Jakes started on Monday, December 18, when a video appeared on a social media suggesting that the preacher had attended several Diddy-hosted events, dated people of the same gender, and engaged in improper sexual behavior with a minor.
Despite requiring verification that the video’s content was accurate, several social media influencers shared it.
The popular preacher became a trending topic on multiple social media platforms within minutes after the video went viral, with one TikTok account that also posted it reaching nearly 2 million views.
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Shortly afterward, Bishop T.D. Jakes’s team issued a statement defending the pastor’s honor and addressing the authenticity of the accusations to preserve his reputation.
Jordan A. Hora, executive director of public relations and communications for the T.D. Jakes Group, T.D. Jakes Ministries, and The Potter’s House, stated in an exclusive statement to The Christian Post on Thursday that “recent claims circulating on pockets of social media about Bishop Jakes are unequivocally false and baseless.”
Adding, “What has always been true is, in the words of the late Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon, ‘If you want the truth to go round the world, you must hire an express train to pull it, but if you want a lie to go round the world, it will fly; it is as light as a feather, and a breath will carry it.’”
The spokesperson said that it was “disheartening to witness” how fast the rumor spread through social media, how quickly people were able to create “deepfake” and distort his words, and the massive “sensationalized misrepresentations, encapsulating purported statements to speculate and attack others, including Bishop Jakes falsely.”
“There is much more important work to be done to create a better world,” she said. “The Bible teaches us the importance of compassion and care for others, especially those who may be marginalized or in need. Chairman Jakes, undeterred by false, perverse, ignorant, and conspiratorial speculations, will persevere in his continued dedication to create meaningful change for millions around the globe guided by the timeless principles of compassion, service, and ministry.”
With the rise of this most recent rumor, another one resurfaced as many netizens speculated that the bishop owned and ran The Shade Room. This, too, was denied by Bishop T.D. Jakes.
“I do not own it. I do not have stock in it. I do not have shares in it. I didn’t know that even existed until I heard it,” he said. “Like most rumors, the person they’re talking about discovers the information when they read it. So I do not own The Shade Room.”
“I am a proud investor in many businesses and companies,” the preacher continued. “And the Shade Room is not one of them.”
Despite the philanthropic work he has done in the world at large, and specifically in the Dallas area, many were quick to not only believe the bloggers’ stories but also make the unsavory allegations the butt of many untasteful jokes.
Diddy seemingly denied the allegations in Cassie’s lawsuit as well as the three others that were filed after her. However, he has yet to speak on these allegations involving Bishop T.D. Jakes.