Disgraced Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz and his wife have broken their silence about his scandalous affair in a new documentary about the secret church that covered up decades of child sexual abuse by its founder’s father.
He was the face of the global megachurch, serving Justin Bieber and a bevy of other celebrities and sports stars, before being exposed for his infidelity in November 2020.
Lentz was fired from the church after his five-month affair with Brooklyn-based jewelry designer Ranin Karim came to the fore.
He and his wife Laura speak about his affair for the first time Vanity Fair and FX’s upcoming documentary series, The Secrets of Hillsong.
The series looks at the meteoric rise and scandals of the megachurch, including allegations of sexual abuse, moral failures and the alleged misuse of church funds.
It premieres Friday, May 19 at 10 p.m. on FX with two episodes before the final two air on May 26.
Disgraced Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz and his wife have broken their silence about his scandalous affairs in a new documentary about the secret church
Lentz’s wife Laura speaks out about his affair for the first time in Vanity Fair and FX’s upcoming documentary series, The Secrets of Hillsong
Lentz brought the Hillsong megachurch to the US from Australia and lived a charming life in a $1.5 million house in New Jersey as New York City’s chief pastor before his world came crashing down.
He was exposed for cheating on his wife and was quickly fired from the church.
Now he and his wife Laura have decided to speak out for the first time in a four-part documentary series.
The trailer for The Secrets of Hillsong was released on Thursday, and Lentz is heard telling director Stacey Lee, “You don’t want to sit in this chair. I can’t emphasize it enough.’
Later in the clip, he tackles the affair head-on, saying, “I had some big lies.”
While Laura adds, “He said I had been unfaithful.”
Lentz is introduced as a “celebrity pastor” in the trailer before a woman says, “Carl, you’re so charming.” He was so special,” while another added, “People idolized him,” and a third said, “There’s a sense that pastors can be hot.”
And one man continued, “Carl was that mega superstar and then he just disappeared.”
Lentz used to attend glamorous parties and go on lavish travels while he was the chief pastor of Hillsong NYC.
His most notable celebrity friendship was with Justin Bieber, 28, and his wife, Hailey Bieber, 25, with whom he’d become so close, the Love Yourself singer even lived with him for four months in 2014.
His other famous friends included the Kardashians, Drake, Vanessa Hudgens, and several NBA stars.
After Lentz was fired over the affair, Karim gave multiple interviews describing her “deep, sexual” connection with him, which was formed after they met in a park and exchanged numbers.
She claimed that she found out about his marriage early on in their relationship, and when she asked him about it, he said, “I’ve never done this before, there’s nothing wrong with my relationship…but you got everything I want in a woman.’
The first trailer for The Secrets of Hillsong was released Thursday, and Lentz is heard telling director Stacey Lee, “You don’t want to sit in this chair. I can’t emphasize it enough’
Lentz (left) was the face of the global megachurch, serving Justin Bieber and a bevy of other celebrities and sports stars, before being exposed for his infidelity in November 2020
Lentz lived a charmed life, mixing with Hollywood’s best while serving as the head pastor of Hillsong NYC
In November 2020, Lentz’s life was turned upside down when news hit the internet that he had been having a five-month affair with 34-year-old fashion designer Ranin Karim (pictured)
The organization’s leader, Brian Houston, announced that Lentz had been fired on November 4, accusing the pastor of “moral failures” and “breach of trust” in a scathing statement.
“This action has been taken in response to ongoing discussions regarding leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures,” he wrote.
Taking a break from social media, Lentz returned in September 2022 to announce that he and his family are finally “at peace” with the whole ordeal, explaining that while it’s been “a challenging road,” they’re still ‘being together.
“It has been a challenging road but we are alive, we are at peace and by the grace of God we are TOGETHER,” he wrote on Instagram, alongside a black and white photo showing him, his wife and the three of them. children standing together while holding hands.
Laura also shared the same photo on her feed, admitting it took “a lot of work” to make their “marriage” what it is today in the caption, but added that she was “proud of her husband for the responsibility that he has taken’. ‘
Lentz grew up in Virginia, but after high school went to Australia where he was introduced to Hillsong founder Brian and his wife before returning to the US.
Lentz and Laura married in 2003 and together they have welcomed daughters Ava and Charlie and son Roman.
Lentz and his wife Laura were also the subject of abuse allegations from another Hillsong pastor.
Leona Kimes, co-pastor of Hillsong Boston with husband Josh, announced in a bombshell Medium post in May 2021 that she had been “subjected to manipulation, control, bullying, abuse of power and sexual abuse” by the Lentzes while working at their home as a nanny. The Lentzes strongly denied Kimes’ allegations.
Disgraced ex-Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz revealed his family was still ‘together’ – as he returned to social media for the first time since cheating on his wife
Brian Houston (pictured with his wife Bobbie), former leader of the global Pentecostal church of Hillsong
Houston (pictured) is fighting charges that he concealed his late father’s sexual abuse and pleaded not guilty to concealing the crime until his father’s death in 2004.
The Christian Post published excerpts from an internal investigation into the Lentzes’ behavior, which revealed that Laura Leona had beaten Kimes when she found her lying on the couch with her husband Carl.
The investigation into the Lentzes also alleged that while Lentz was seeing Karim, he also had another “improper relationship” with a woman he called Germany whom he met in Brooklyn.
Lentz was accused of causing mental health problems for employees by belittling and bullying them. Other former church members have likened the church to a cult and detailed incidents of sexual assault.
Josh and Leona Kimes resigned as Hillsong pastors in April 2022 after Josh admitted to sending a “racist text message” to a congregation member.
The documentary series also looks at the megachurch’s growing list of scandals involving founder and Lentz’ mentor Houston.
He is currently battling allegations that he concealed the sexual abuse of his late father’s children and has pleaded not guilty to a charge of covering up the crime until his father’s death in 2004.
The case remains in court and hearings will resume in June.
Former leaders, victims and experts are interviewed, including ex-pastor Geoff Bullock, author Tanya Levin, congregants Ashley and Mary Jones and Janice Lagata, David Cowdrey, a victim of Houston’s father Frank, former Hillsong NYC choir director Josh Canfield, and Australian Senator David Schoenbrug.
Hillsong started in Australia in 1983 and grew into an international megachurch with a celebrity following.
But in the last few years, the so-called disciples of the church have shown themselves to have somewhat compromised morals.