Some things don’t work out as intended. Gospel artist Marvin Sapp has opened up about the intense backlash he faced following a viral video in which he urged church attendees to donate a collective $40,000. During an appearance on The Rickey Smiley Morning Show on Monday (March 31), the singer and bishop revealed that the criticism escalated far beyond online debate, leading to serious threats.
ICYMI, the controversial moment, which took place in August 2023 at a national church conference in Baltimore, resurfaced recently, sparking heated discussions. Sapp clarified that the funds were intended for the conference’s budget, not his personal church. While acknowledging that his delivery may have been too forceful, he denied rumors that church doors were locked during the appeal.
“People took issue with my tone, and looking at the video, maybe I was a little more assertive than I should have been, and I can apologize for that,” Sapp admitted.
Sadly, the backlash took a darker turn, with Sapp disclosing that he and his staff have faced harassment. “People have called my church and cussed me out. My staff are afraid because I’ve received death threats,” he shared. “People have come to our campus. They have come to my church to try to cause problems, issues, (and) challenges.”