Skillet Frontman John Cooper Details Experience With Church Abuse

John Cooper, the lead singer of the rock band Skillet, recently shared that he and his family experienced a painful departure from their church of 30 years. Cooper described the situation as a period of "brutal" abuse, alleging that an increasingly authoritarian leadership structure led to his family being ostracized. He stated that the conflict involved members of his own extended family who held leadership positions within the congregation.

According to Cooper, the dispute arose after he began questioning the church's teachings on spiritual authority. He alleged that for approximately two years, church leaders slandered him and his wife, Korey, by suggesting they were compromising their faith and working against the Kingdom of God. Cooper noted that this experience caused him to struggle with renewed bouts of anger and depression, similar to challenges he faced during his youth. He shared that these personal hardships served as the inspiration for the band's new EP, "After the Storm."