Based on its first trailer, FX’s upcoming documentary about Hillsong Church looks like it’s going to be as explosive as its subject matter.
Hillsong has been accused of “child abuse, labor abuse and sexual assault” in this first look at “The Secret of Hillsong” series. The four-part series premieres May 19 at 10PM ET/PT on FX.
The trailer featured interview footage of disgraced former pastor Carl Lentz. The celebrity pastor served as a spiritual advisor to Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner before being fired in 2020. From Hillsong Global Pastor Brian Houston, Lentz was fired for “leadership issues and breaches of trust, as well as recent revelations of ethical failings”. But as the documentary teases, there may be more to the story.
“You do not want to be in this chair. I cannot stress this enough,” Lentz says in the trailer. “I had some big lies.”
Hillsong Church is a global megachurch that has gained a reputation for two things: its long list of controversies and its celebrity members, Hillsong has long been criticized for its views on homosexuality and for Houston’s comment that the church would accept LGBT people who did not follow a “gay lifestyle”. It has also been involved in a controversial anti-abortion charity and was criticized for its delayed response to Black Lives Matter.
These are the scams that the public usually hears about. Hillsong has also been accused of misappropriating government-issued funds, covering up the sexual abuse of its founder’s father and its own history of sexual assault within the church. Despite this long list of scandals, the church has been a mainstay for a certain subgroup of Hollywood. In addition to Bieber, Gomez and Jenner, Kevin Durant, Nick Jonas, Sophie Turner, Vanessa Hudgens, Kourtney Kardashian, Austin Butler, and even Bono have participated in the religious organization.
“The Secrets of Hillsong” is based on the explosive reporting of church scandals by “Vanity Fair” reporters Alex French and Dan Adler. Directed by Stacey Lee (“Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2u”), the documentary series will feature exclusive interviews of Carl and Laura Lentz following their public eviction. The series will also include original reporting and analysis from journalists, historians and policy makers as it “goes beyond sensationalist headlines and behind the velvet rope to examine the Church’s longstanding pattern of covering up misconduct to protect itself.” ” ,
The four-part series is produced by Scout Productions and “Vanity Fair” studios. David Collins, Joel Chiodi, Michael Williams, Rob Erich, Agnes Chu, Dan Adler, Sarah Amos and Alex French will executive produce the series.
Watch the trailer for FX’s “The Secrets of Hillsong” above.
