Ted Haggard Admits To New 'Inappropriate Relationship' On Eve Of HBO Documentary

Access Hollywood - January 28, 2009 3:50 AM PST
Story photo: Ted Haggard Admits To New 'Inappropriate Relationship' On Eve Of HBO DocumentaryAccess Hollywood

By George Larrimore

NEW YORK, NY -- Ex-evangelist Ted Haggard and his wife Gayle are set to visit "Oprah" on Wednesday for a tell-all with tears about Haggard's struggles with his sexuality and about how he wound up being drummed out of his church as a result.

That "Oprah" appearance, coincidentally, will take place one day before the debut of a new HBO documentary about his troubles called "The Trials Of Ted Haggard." And now the documentary itself, or the marketing of it, is causing new trouble for Haggard.

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Today both The New York Times and the Associated Press are reporting that a young man has come forward to claim that Haggard performed a sex act in front of him and sent him explicit text messages and that he reached a settlement with the Church over the incident in 2007.

So why is this new information surfacing now? The young man in question, according to the Times, saw HBO's advertising for the show and thought it was overly sympathetic to Mr. Haggard and was about to break his silence. HBO's people reacted with a release saying while there was no physical contact between Haggard (now 52) and Grant Haas (who was 22 at the time) that it was an "inappropriate relationship."

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For its part, the Church has acknowledged paying Haas -- to the tune of nearly $179,000 according to documents provided to KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs.

In characterizing a legal settlement involving money with Haas, a church spokesperson told the New York Times that the deal was, "not so much a settlement as it was compassionate assistance - we were trying to help the young man by being discreet."

The church has suggested that none of this would have come out if HBO hadn't been airing the documentary this week.

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Meanwhile, Alexandra Pelosi, director of the HBO documentary and daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, doesn't see HBO as the root of the problem. She told the Associate Press that, "this is what happens when you don't handle things properly at the time... If the church had been 100 percent full disclosure at the time, maybe this wouldn't be a problem now."

Haggard was first bounced from his post as Founding Pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs in 2006 after admitting to a long-term relationship with a male prostitute.

Meanwhile, on "Oprah," Haggard's wife Gayle said in clips released today by Oprah's people, that she was shocked early in their 30-year-long marriage when her husband first told her he was attracted to men.

"I felt it was the thing that could destroy Ted if he gave in to it," she said. "So I prayed for him and I felt as though he was winning the battle."

And on New Life's Web site today... no mention of Ted Haggard at all.

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comments 1-10 of 23  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Greg G
    it does not matter if it is politicians, televangilists, or actors. one thing that is constant is when they can steal they steal. when they can commit deviant behavior they do. when they lie they do it well. and when they do all three they are democrats
    report abuseposted October 27, 2009 12:15 AM PDT
  • StreetPeaches
    Religious nuts are the same intolerant fear mongerers across the globe, from the Taliban to Baptists they hate the same people. Get off this site if you are so religious. Get back on your knees believers and keep praying for death, the rest of us can't wait!
    report abuseposted January 28, 2009 11:28 PM PST
  • Sam
    HE NEEDED COMPASSION FOR "ONLY" WATCHING A SEX ACT. HOW INCOVEINT A WAY TO EXTORT MONEY...WHAT A JERK!!!!
    report abuseposted January 28, 2009 5:50 PM PST
  • lifevibe
    He needs to get a life of his own. Like all religious fanatics, he needs to grow up.
    report abuseposted January 28, 2009 3:56 PM PST
  • topsyturvy
    The Church claiming that $170K+ is simply "compassionate" assistance is absurd. The money is hush money pure and simple. The director is right. If the church had admitted the problem for what it was, their lead minister that was being hypocritical to the teachings of the church he led, none of the rest would have played out the way it did.
    report abuseposted January 28, 2009 3:31 PM PST
  • gisel
    What do you mean Jesus didn't say anything about being gay "friendsofcash"? It is written in the bible everywhere even in the old testaments. When the two angels came to sodom and gomorrah (i believe that's how they're spelled). Please people read your bible. We have no right to judge this man but being gay or having sex outside of marriage is a sin. pla
    report abuseposted January 28, 2009 2:07 PM PST
  • JMJ
    Jesus did speak about love, but he also spoke about sexual immorality or lasciviousness, depending on NIV or KJV translation(Mark 7:21-22) along with various other things which defile us. No one walking this earth has the right to judge this man though because we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Homosexuality may not be your vice, but there is always something.
    report abuseposted January 28, 2009 9:49 AM PST
  • friendofcash
    As Christians, we are taught if we are in leadership, we are held to higher expectations. We are also aware God will expose our true identity to the world we are lying to. Just imagine the look on Ted's face when God explains to him homosexuality is okay. Translation has always been limited by language. Jesus didn't say anything about homosexuality but a great deal about loving o
    report abuseposted January 28, 2009 8:13 AM PST
  • truthful
    Perfect example of a republican.
    report abuseposted January 28, 2009 5:30 AM PST
  • Mezwiz
    He disgraces himself, his wife and his church by airing his dirty laundry on Oprah. What's the point anyway? Does he hope to gain sympathy from the public or what? He needs to seek Christ for real, b/c had he been he wouldn't have cheated on his poor wife and lied to thousands of ppl. Gay or straight he needs to get himself together and not on Oprah.
    report abuseposted January 28, 2009 5:05 AM PST
comments 1-10 of 23  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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