New details are emerging about the scandal that rocked the celebrity Christian community involving the sudden firing of celebrity pastor Carl Lentz last week, and they’re coming straight from the woman who allegedly had a romantic relationship with the faith leader.
On November 4, Hillsong megachurch founder Brian Houston sent out a shocking email to the church’s community, informing the global congregation that Lentz had been released from his position as head pastor of the popular New York City location. The reason for firing was stated as “moral failure,” but Lentz himself confirmed that he was released because he cheated on his wife (who was also released from her position).
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"When you lead out of an empty place, you make choices that have real and painful consequences," the pastor wrote on social media. "I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life and held accountable for that."
Today, the New York Post shared an interview with a woman who alleges that she recently dated Lentz. Ranin, a NYC-based fashion designer, told the outlet that she and the former pastor had maintained an intimate romantic relationship throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Their first encounter allegedly took place at Williamsburg’s Domino Park.
"I thought, he’s single, he’s a good-looking man, why not?” Ranin told the New York Post, sharing that Lentz later revealed that he was married.
The pair reportedly began to grow closer, bonding over tequila during their weekly visits. Ranin says the relationship, which spanned the course of five months, only ended for good after Lentz shared his official statement last week. Even when his wife first discovered evidence of the affair by way of text messages saved on his iCloud account — "He’s not really a good cheater," Ranin said of the pastor — and after he was fired by Hillsong, she claims the pair still continued to stay in contact.
"People like [Lentz] shouldn’t preach," Ranin concluded. "He’s a professional narcissist [who] lies too much."
Refinery29 has reached out to Lentz for comment, but he has not responded.