While Grammy-nominated Lauren Daigle had a wildly successful 2018 with the debut of her album “Look Up Child”, it was also a year met with lots of backlash after she appeared on “The Ellen Show” and made some controversial comments about her stance on homosexuality.
When asked if she “felt” homosexuality was a sin in an interview with Domenick Nati, she replied, “I can’t honestly answer on that, in the sense of I have too many people that I love and they are homosexuals. I can’t say one way or the other. I’m not God. When people ask questions like that, I just say, ‘Read the Bible and find out for yourself. And when you find out, let me know because I’m learning too.’”
The singer who started with Christian roots was met with massive criticism for giving what was perceived to be a watered-down, people-pleasing response to something the Bible explicitly states is sin.
Daigle has made it clear that it is her intent to have crossover appeal in both the Christian and secular markets, but some fans feel she’s taken it way too far and is leaving Jesus in the dust.
An interview this month with 104.3 MYFM only added fuel to the already heated fire when Daigle was asked if she still identifies as a Christian artist.
“What do you call yourself? What do you name yourself? Do you call yourself still a Christian artist even in the mainstream, or what do you call yourself?” the interviewer asked.
“I feel like those labels get put on you by other people,” the singer replied. “I was reading articles, I read them here in there, and one of them said Christian artist and the other ones said just artist. But I think part of me is just an artist because it encompasses everything. That’s kind of how I see myself.”
In talking about the making of her record, Daigle said they drew on so many different types of artists.
“While we were making this record we were constantly studying the greats that came before — Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Andre Crouch, Lauren Hill,” she shared. “There’s just a plethora of artists that we listened to, over and over.”
“I remember talking so much about, ‘Let’s just make sure that we make music that we believe in that’s pure, true sound and something that we love, and it’ll transcend wherever it’s supposed to go. But let’s make sure that it’s pure authentic to who we are,’” she added.
To many listeners’ disdain, Daigle did not make mention of God or Jesus in the entire 20-minute interview, but rather reverted to general terms like “faith” and “love.”
Critics in the interview’s YouTube comments were quick to call the singer out for shedding her Christian roots.
“Well there you have it folks. I called it out on my channel and some people told me I am judging her. She’s telling you she’s not a Christian artist, but y’all still want to force it on her,” wrote one commenter.
“Daigle……… You didn’t even give God the Glory for blessing you with a wonderful voice! You didn’t once mention the name of our Lord JESUS CHRIST!,” added another disturbed commenter. “Shame on YOU Daigle. May our Lord Jesus Christ lead you back onto the right path because clearly you have gone astray….. REPENT.”
And the criticism certainly didn’t end there on the video that has now amassed 356 dislikes, 91 likes, and hundreds of negative comments:
Of her deep dive into the world of mainstream music, the 27-year-old said she doesn’t feel the need to be more cautious about gaining that notoriety as “risk is the best” and “a beautiful thing.”
In an earlier interview, Daigle affirmed that her “crossover appeal” into two different markets doesn’t mean she’s leaving one for the other:
“[My music] is having crossover appeal, but it doesn’t mean that I’m leaving one for the other or that I’m going to be swept up by one thing or the other. For me, it’s like, ‘Oh, everything just got even more clear.’ Everything just got clearer as to why it is that we go and love people who are outside of the walls of our church, outside of the walls that we’re comfortable with.”
However, as time progresses, it seems more and more Christians aren’t buying it.
What do you think of Daigle shedding her “Christian artist” title? Is it an effective way to reach more people with the love of Jesus or projecting a lukewarm version of the Gospel? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
