Bishop T.D. Jakes has reportedly filed a defamation lawsuit against Duane Youngblood, a Pennsylvania-based pastor who accused him of sexual assault.
Appearing on the Larry Reid Live podcast, Youngblood claimed the assault happened when he was 18 or 19 years old—however, the representative for T.D. Jakes believes Youngblood fabricated the story for financial gain.
The defamation, according to sources, was filed in a Pennsylvania federal court. T. D. Jake had a medical emergency on Sunday while delivering a sermon at The Potter’s House Church in Dallas.
Representatives for the 67-year-old pastor have suggested that the stress from the lawsuit may have played a role in the medical emergency.
Jakes’ team says the defamation suit was intended to deal with the falsehood and end the emotional, physical, and spiritual toll Defendants’ conduct has caused Bishop Jakes.
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According to reports, Youngblood and his team, on November 15, filed a complaint demanding $6 million from Jakes to resolve the matter “quickly and privately.”
Duane Youngblood is the founder of Higher Call World Outreach Ministries, Inc. Sources say he was threatened to file a sexual assault suit if Jakes did not comply with the financial demand.
“Bishop Jakes believes with all his heart that actual victims of sexual abuse should be treated with the utmost respect, kindness, empathy, and sympathy — and that true perpetrators of such abuse should be held accountable for their actions,
“But that is not the case here. Youngblood has used and abused the might of social media and the legal process to … make knowingly false accusations for his own personal and financial gain,” Legal representative for Jakes stated in the defamation suit.
Other media reports indicate that Youngblood had previously pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting at least two teenage boys.
Following Bishop T.D. Jakes’ medical emergency on Sunday, his daughter, Sarah Jakes, posted on social media that the man of God was responding to treatment.
“Hey family. I know today’s been an interesting day for us. But we didn’t want to lay down without giving you all an update about how everything is going with Bishop.”
“Yeah we felt those prayers…Obviously today could have been a tragic day. But it wasn’t by the mercy of God, by the grace of God. Bishop is doing well. He’s recovering well. He’s under medical care. He’s strong. We’re trying to get him to sit down. He’s the strong Bishop that we know,” Sarah and her partners stated, and thanked individuals and family for the support and prayers.
