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Daystar’s President Joni Lamb Breaks Silence on Son Jonathan’s Alleged Blackmail Attempt
- Milton Quintanilla Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
- Updated Dec 02, 2024
Joni Lamb, who is the President and co-founder of the Texas-based Daystar Television Network, has accused her son, Jonathan Lamb, of attempted blackmail and launching a smear campaign against her after he and his wife alleged that a family member sexually abused their daughter.
In a statement released last week, Joni Lamb argued that the allegations laid against her and her late husband, Marcus Lamb, made by her son are "completely false."
"I want to assure you that all the allegations that are circulating against myself, my late husband, and other members of my family are completely false, and we have already begun to take legal steps to defend ourselves and will address the accusations in a God-honoring way."
Her statement was made in response to a recent interview with The Roys Report, when Jonathan Lamb and his wife Suzy, alleged that a family member, only identified as "Pete," is suspected of sexually abusing their daughter in the summer of 2021 at a beach house Daystar rented for its annual executive retreat in Miramar Beach, Florida. Pete, however, has denied that claim.
"(My client) unequivocally denies the statements made by Jonathan and Suzy Lamb alleging that he engaged in some form of improper contact with any child. […] Anyone who knows (client) knows that these statements are false, insulting and demeaning," Pete's attorney, Mark G. Daniel, said in a letter to Julie Roys or The Roys Report.
When Suzy Lamb reported to Joni Lamb about the abuse, she claimed that she was told not to report it to the police. She also said that her daughter stopped talking about the abuse after Joni Lamb reportedly brought her into a meeting alone.
"I don't know what happened there," Suzy Lamb told TRR regarding her child, likening her to a "lockbox."
"She doesn't remember one thing," Jonathan Lamb said. "She doesn't even remember having that conversation. It's like it never happened."
Although the couple reported the matter to police, the case was then closed after their daughter wouldn't talk. In 2023, they took their daughter to a counselor who reported the suspected abuse to Texas Child Protective Services. While the case has been reopened, no charges have been filed.
Jonathan and Suzy Lamb also accused his late father, Marcus Lamb, who died in November 2021, and his mother focused more on protecting Pete and Daystar's image over their own granddaughter.
In her statement Monday, Joni Lamb noted that her son was fired after a 15-month performance review during which he failed to satisfy a performance improvement plan, adding that he further refused to "participate in a formal mediation to resolve grievances in a biblical and professional manner."
"Rather than take any steps to improve his performance at Daystar, it seems clear now that Jonathan was focused on fabricating a smear campaign," Joni Lamb asserted.
She claimed that her son attempted to blackmail Daystar into naming him president of the network even though Marcus Lamb informed both his family and the board that the position would go to her.
"We remain willing to put this episode behind us, however, we also require security, transparency, and certainty about our futures at Daystar. To achieve this goal, we would suggest that Joni, Daystar, and ourselves enter into a new contract that clearly spells out my future role as President of Daystar, restricts the ability of Joni (or any other officer or director) from taking actions adverse to our employment without good cause (to be clearly defined), and without prior approval of a majority of the board of directors," Jonathan Lamb reportedly wrote in an email to his mother.
"In exchange for the agreement contemplated above, we will agree not to use, disseminate, or otherwise publish any and all audio recordings that could be harmful or embarrassing to Daystar, Joni, or our family."
Regarding his request on becoming president of Daystar, Jonathan Lamb told The Roys Report that his late father's succession plan was that he would become president should Joni Lamb retire or die. As reported by Roys, Lamb's email was in response to 13 stipulations Daystar provided to the couple if they wanted their positions back.
Joni Lamb also pointed out that Jonathan Lamb was unhappy that she married Doug Weiss, a counselor and sex therapist, following her late husband's passing.
"His disappointment in not getting his way only deepened when I married Doug Weiss, who has been such a blessing to me, the rest of my family, and Daystar. Jonathan's disappointment escalated to the point where he attempted to blackmail his way into becoming the future president of Daystar," Joni Lamb said.
"I certainly have nothing to hide, nor would I ever submit to threats of blackmail," she added. "As a mother and grandmother, this situation saddens me deeply, and it grieves my heart because I love my family. I love all of my children and grandchildren. I love the work we've done together for so many years. I had hoped we could have resolved this situation in private, but now he has given me no choice except to speak out."
WATCH: Official Statement from Joni Lamb Addressing Circulating Allegations & Leadership Changes
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Daystar
