By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
Days after an explicit pornographic video appeared on his X account, Hillsong founder Brian Houston has told supporters he does not watch pornography and believes someone with access to one of his devices deliberately posted the material.
In a video message, Houston said he wanted to “speak personally” about the incident, calling the post “vile” and insisting, “I do not watch pornography — not online, not on social media, nowhere else.” He said more than five decades in ministry had shown him the damage pornography causes to individuals, marriages, and families, adding, “I detest it.”
Houston said the post appeared while he and his wife, Bobbie, were in bed. He rejected claims circulating online that he had described the incident as a “hack,” saying he used the word “compromised” intentionally.
“I don’t believe it’s likely that anyone hacked into my X account. Not impossible, but not likely,” he said. “I believe someone used one of my own devices, using my own passcode, to access my phone without my knowledge or permission. Someone with a grudge wanted to cause maximum damage with minimum effort.”
Houston said he does not believe this was the first time the unknown individual has accessed his accounts.
Last week he posted on X: “This account was compromised overnight. Any odd posts, links, or messages shared earlier were not legitimate and have been reported and deleted.”
He told supporters he understood why people were offended or disgusted by the video. “Bobbie and I feel exactly the same way,” he said, asking for continued prayer. “We’re not quitters. We keep trucking on.”
This is not the first time Houston’s X account has posted inappropriate content. In 2024, the account published the phrase “ladies and girls kissing,” prompting his team to issue a statement saying someone had logged in from a location in the United States and that the password had been changed.
Houston resigned as Hillsong’s global senior pastor in March 2022 after two women made allegations of misconduct. He had already stepped aside from Hillsong’s boards in 2021 while facing charges in Australia related to allegations he failed to report his father’s historic sexual abuse. He denied wrongdoing and was later found not guilty.
In a separate matter, Houston pleaded guilty in California to driving under the influence in 2022, receiving three years’ probation, a fine, and mandatory alcohol‑related programs.
Houston and his wife now lead a new ministry project, Jesusfollowers.tv.