Hillsong founder Brian Houston explains pornographic video posted from his phone

Hillsong founder Brian Houston has described a pornographic clip that briefly appeared on his social media account.

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Kimberley Braddish
The Nightly
Hillsong founder Brian Houston has described a pornographic clip that briefly appeared on his social media account.
Hillsong founder Brian Houston has described a pornographic clip that briefly appeared on his social media account. Credit: Brian Houston/Instagram

Hillsong founder Brian Houston has described a pornographic clip that briefly appeared on his X account as a “vile post”, saying he has “seen the fallout of pornography on individuals, on marriages, on families and I detest it”.

Mr Houston took to Instagram to explain why an eight-minute video from a 1976 French adult film was reposted on his X profile.

The clip appeared last week and was positioned above a separate post referencing a Mother’s Day appearance by his wife, Bobbie. It was later deleted.

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Mr Houston said he had not used the term “hacked” in relation to the incident, pushing back on reporting. “According to the Christian Post, and probably others, they said in a tweet that I did since then that I said that I was hacked, I never used the word ‘hack’. That’s false. It’s untrue,” he said.

“I did say my account was compromised. And you might say, well, what’s the difference? But I think there is a difference. I don’t believe that it’s likely that anyone actually hacked into my account. Not impossible, but not likely.”

He said he believed there was a different explanation for what occurred. “I believe that someone has used one of my own devices, using my own passcode to access my phone without my knowledge or my permission, someone with a grudge wanting to cause maximum damage with perhaps minimum effort to smear me and to humiliate me.”

“And I don’t think it’s the first time it’s happened. I believe it’s happen before. If you were exposed to that video and you were disgusted or offended, I totally understand. Bobbie and I feel exactly the same way.”

Mr Houston said he and his wife Bobbie were in bed when the post appeared on his account.

He said he does not watch pornography, saying he had been in ministry for more than 54 years and had witnessed its effects on families and relationships.

He also confirmed the content was removed after it was flagged.

Mr Houston resigned from Hillsong in 2022 but continues to preach in the United States.

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