Pastor Keion Henderson is speaking out and addressing backlash after telling a woman to be quiet during a recent sermon.
RELATED: Whew! Pastor Keion Henderson Goes Viral After Telling Woman to Be Silent During Praise and Worship (WATCH)
Pastor Keion Henderson talks about the viral moment
On Monday, May 7, Pastor Henderson and his wife Shaunie appeared as guests on The Tamron Hall Show. On the same day, a promotional clip of her performance was shared via the show’s official Instagram account.
In the clip, Hall asked Pastor Henderson to explain what happened in the viral video of him silencing a church attendee.
In response, Pastor Henderson explained that it had been a “four-year battle” with the church.
“I have already spoken to her personally. I had already had ushers go to her… I had everything [done],” he said. “So she did it publicly after being asked not to.”
At this point, Hall asked Pastor Henderson if the woman was crying or making “emotional complaints.”
“As a pastor, I know the difference between disruption and worship,” he said, before appearing to defend his recent actions. “And what people need to understand is that every time you hear a noise in church, it is not a service. And that’s why there has to be order.”
Pastor Henderson finally explained that he “brought order to the room so that people could hear God and not them.”
Before addressing the topic, the priest explained that he would do it again if necessary.
Social media weighs
Social media users responded to Pastor Henderson’s defense of his actions in the comments section of The Shade Room. Many seemed to agree with his intuition about community members’ intentions.
Instagram user @neski_juicegurl wrote: “You see how she became quiet after telling him, “I was in church and people who are really in the service, don’t be so quiet right away, you have to calm them down, like he said, he knows the difference.” between disruption and worship 💯.” ”
While Instagram user @altonkiing added: “And people got on my nerves because they said he realized something was wrong. People lack judgment and don’t want accountability… They all want a church where the pastors don’t correct anything and you can do whatever you want without accountability. So when a pastor brings reproof, you are now completely crazy?”
Instagram user @kso_special wrote: “‘As a pastor, I know the difference between disruption and worship. A WORD”
While Instagram user @keekeemarie added: “I’m with him. She wouldn’t have fallen silent so quickly if it had been sincere. The Holy Spirit cannot be silenced! She had to stop!”
Instagram user @bluecentric wrote: “I’m on his side on this one. Sister was manipulative and willfully defiant in a moment of worship and devotion and that is not about God… 😒”
However, some users shared alternative perspectives.
Instagram user @i.am.j.hill wrote: “I’m confused…if she’s been doing this for FOUR years…and been counseled and reprimanded, then why is she still at the podium when you’re tired of the outbursts?! Lol! Both parties as manager and member are liable. I’m going back to my corner 🤐🤣”
While Instagram user @rejohan added: “If she does this regularly, why is she in the pulpit? If she is a member, why humiliate her? Why have a whole press covering it to embarrass them even more? [and] Do you ask someone on your staff to calm them down? Why did you snap your fingers at her? Let’s be here!”
Instagram user @cynnalloyd wrote: “…um…if she does this regularly, why is she invited on stage? 👀”
Here’s what happened initially
As The Shade Room previously reported, the clip of Pastor Henderson’s recent sermon went viral earlier this week. In the clip, he was seen leading a praise and worship event with his choir.
However, as he began to sing, he was interrupted by what appeared to be loud screams from a woman.
The clip then shows him walking up to one of the female choir members and telling her to “be quiet” “in the name of Jesus.”
After the clip went viral, it received mixed reactions, according to The Shade Room. Some social media users felt that the priest was wrong to silence the woman. Meanwhile, others seemed to agree with him that he found the woman’s outbursts disturbing.
Additionally, alleged parishioners at Pastor Henderson’s church weighed in as social media users expressed conflicting views to support his claims that the woman has been a long-standing nuisance.
RELATED: Followers of Pastor Keion Henderson claim he silenced woman with viral video screams during every service