Pastor Jamal Bryant is facing fresh criticism after a woman who claims to be the mother of one of his children publicly accused the megachurch leader of being an absent father.
The allegations come from LaToya Shawntee Odom, who appears in an upcoming interview with online personality Tasha K. According to The Christian Post, Odom claims Bryant has “never been” actively involved in the life of their son, John Karston Bryant, who is set to turn 11 this summer. She also alleges that Bryant has provided very little financial support, stating, “The last payment I received was $96.”
Odom’s most emotional claim centers on what she says was her son’s attempt to meet his father for the first time.
“And John loves him,” Odom said. “One day, he told me, he said, ‘Mommy, I love you, and I love my daddy.'” She recalled taking her son to Atlanta when he was just 2 years old after he repeatedly asked to meet Bryant.
“So, I dressed him up at 2,” she said. “He was in Atlanta. And I took him. Do you know Jamal never touched him? Just looked at him. They had a staring contest.”
Bryant has not publicly responded to Odom’s latest allegations. A spokesperson for the pastor also did not immediately comment when contacted by reporters.
The claims revive a controversy that dates back more than a decade. In 2016, while Bryant was serving as pastor of Empowerment Temple in Baltimore, Odom released what she said was a DNA test showing a 99.9999% probability that Bryant was the father of her son.
She has also previously alleged that Bryant encouraged her to terminate the pregnancy, an accusation he has not publicly addressed.
Outside of leading New Birth Missionary Baptist Church near Atlanta, Bryant has recently been a prominent figure in national discussions on economic activism, leading the widely publicized Target fast and boycott campaign.
Bryant is the father of eight children from multiple relationships. His most well-known children include daughters Grace and twins Angel and Adore, whom he shares with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Gizelle Bryant, as well as his daughter Naomi from a previous relationship. Odom’s son, John Karston Bryant, is also among the children publicly linked to the pastor.
