Megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes has firmly denied allegations of s£xual assault made by two pastor brothers, Duane and Richard Youngblood, dating back several decades. The accusations first surfaced last year when Duane Youngblood, 58, claimed Jakes had targeted him over 40 years ago. Earlier this month, Richard Edwin Youngblood Sr., 62, Duane’s older brother, filed his own allegations, accusing Jakes of similar misconduct during a ministry event where they shared a hotel room.
In his affidavit, Richard described an incident where he alleged Jakes climbed into his bed, pressed his body against him, and referenced his erection before attempting to kiss him. Richard stated he was in “complete shock” and resisted the advance. These claims were filed to support Duane’s initial allegations, with several other men also submitting sworn affidavits to corroborate Duane’s account.
Duane Youngblood first came forward in October 2024, alleging that Jakes assaulted him when he was 18 or 19 years old. He claimed that after a two-hour conversation at the home of an elderly clergywoman, Jakes attempted to kiss him. The next morning, Duane alleged that Jakes called him while in a bathtub and proposed a s£xual relationship, promising financial support in exchange for exclusivity.
Jakes has vehemently denied these allegations, calling them “ludicrous” and “bald-faced lies.” He filed a defamation lawsuit against the brothers, accusing them of orchestrating a “campaign of lies” and attempting to extort $6 million from him. In his response to the motion to dismiss the defamation suit, Jakes stated that he had never engaged in any inappropriate behavior with the Youngblood brothers or harbored any s£xual desires for them.
Jakes also addressed Richard’s claims, suggesting they were motivated by resentment after he refused to give Richard a job. He criticized Richard’s personal life, citing his inability to maintain employment, multiple children with different women, and a felony conviction for failing to pay child support.
In an eight-page affidavit, Jakes expressed his frustration with the allegations, stating that the emotional toll on him and his family had become unbearable. He emphasized that he had never before initiated a lawsuit but felt compelled to defend his reputation and legacy against what he described as a coordinated attack.
Jakes concluded by reaffirming his innocence and condemning the Youngblood brothers for their actions, stating, “In all my years, I have never initiated a lawsuit against anyone. We filed this lawsuit against individuals who were supposed to be men of God but are clearly not.”
