Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Blamed for Bishop T.D. Jakes Stepping Down: “Diddy Did It"

• Bishop T.D. Jakes officially retired as the lead pastor of The Potter's House megachurch, which he founded in 1996
• An emotional video of Jakes relinquishing his role and announcing that his daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and her husband, Touré Roberts, would take over as lead pastors, stirred conversation
• Netizens praised Jakes for knowing when to step down, while others linked his retirement to Diddy's current legal issues
• Briefly News spoke to Worship Ministries Pastor David Mikaeli on succession within a church organisation

Social media users hilariously suggested that embattled US hip hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is the reason Bishop T.D. Jakes stepped down as lead pastor at The Potter’s House. The nature of Jakes’ relationship with Diddy came under scrutiny with Chris Brown making fun of the popular cleric.

T.D. Jakes steps down as The Potter's House lead pastor

T.D. Jakes announced that he was retiring as the head pastor of The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas. Jakes announced his decision to step down as the head pastor of the megachurch he founded in 1996 during a church service on Sunday, 27 April.

His decision comes after he suffered a heart attack in November 2024. T.D. Jakes said:

“And I’m so grateful […] I cannot afford, especially after November, to risk something happening to me and you being sheep without a shepherd.”

Jakes’ daughter, Sarah Jakes Roberts, and his son-in-law, Toure Roberts, will take over as The Potter’s House lead pastors starting in July.

In a clip shared by entertainment and current affairs blog TheShadeRoom on X, Jakes advised his daughter and son-in-law of the responsibility that awaits them in the role. He was almost in tears as he appealed to the church to help make the transition seamless.

“Please be good to our people. Please help them. The humility that you see is real. The weight, it's unbelievable,” T.D. Jakes said.

While he will no longer be head pastor, T.D. Jakes will continue as chairman of The Potter's House board and operate as a spiritual overseer.

Watch the video below:

Netizens weigh in on T.D. Jakes' resignation

In the comments, several netizens connected Bishop T.D. Jakes’ resignation with Diddy’s current legal issues. Others applauded the popular man of the cloth for stepping down amid his ongoing health issues.

Here are some of the comments:

@mizzhndrxx responded:

“Yeah, after that close call he had, I’m glad he's stepping down and spending more time enjoying life.”

@Alexusroseee asked:

“This man clearly looks sick, and you guys are mentioning Diddy? I hate it here.”

@killuminati speculated:

“The Feds must’ve told him about the evidence in that Diddy case and his name in it.”

@poooshiesty said:

“He's losing his hue. I don't think he'll be with us much longer. I've had to say farewell to many people, and this is what I'm seeing, unfortunately.”

@AkwacyBaah claimed:

“Diddy did it.”

Briefly News spoke to Worship Ministries Pastor David Mikaeli who shared his thoughts on succession within a church setup.

He said there's a growing trend of church founders and leaders appointing their family members as successors. Pastor Mikaeli said while this has its advantages it also raises concerns.

"It reflects a growing trend in churches where appointing a family member is a way to maintain legacy and continuity. While this can strengthen community ties and ensure a shared vision, it also raises concerns about qualifications and nepotism," Pastor David Mikaeli explained.

He explained that there's need to balance maintaining legacy and a spiritual calling rather than family lineage.

"However, balancing legacy and calling requires churches to prioritise both spiritual gifts and leadership capabilities, rather than solely family lineage. Potential benefits include a smoother transition and deep-rooted commitment, while risks may involve resistance from the congregation if they perceive a lack of merit in the new leadership," he added.

Diddy jury selection and trial date set

Jury selection for Diddy's sex-trafficking and racketeering trial is expected to begin on 5 May. Opening statements are scheduled for 12 May. The trial is expected to last eight to ten weeks.

The 55-year-old rap mogul has pleaded not guilty to charges that include racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking for allegedly coercing women to participate in his freak-offs.

Wendy Williams predicts Diddy's future

Meanwhile, Briefly News reported that Wendy Williams predicted Diddy's future.

During a recent interview, the media personality claimed that the controversial star will spend the rest of his life in prison

Diddy is currently incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after he was arrested in September 2024.

Source: Briefly News