Carl Lentz was fired from Hillsong Church New York in 2020 after revelations of infidelity and other “moral failures,” and since then he’s slowly re- emerged with a podcast, interviews, and now a book about healing after betrayal.

Carl Lentz – What Happened? (Quick Scoop)

1. The Initial Scandal (2020)

  • In November 2020, Hillsong Church announced that Carl Lentz had been fired from his role as lead pastor of Hillsong NYC.
  • The church cited “leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures” as the reasons.
  • Soon after, it became public that he had engaged in an extramarital affair; the woman involved, Ranin Karim, spoke openly about the relationship.
  • Former nanny Leona Kimes later accused him of sexual abuse and misconduct, adding more weight to the allegations around his behavior and power dynamics.

In forum and commentary spaces, this is often described as the “fall” of one of the highest‑profile celebrity pastors linked to Hillsong.

2. Aftermath and Disappearance from the Spotlight

  • After his firing, Lentz largely disappeared from public ministry, and his family moved away from New York, entering what they describe as a long season of “silence” and internal work.
  • His wife, Laura, has said that he “humbled” himself, took responsibility, and spent time working on personal recovery and their marriage.
  • For several years he insisted he had no desire to start another church or return to a traditional pastoral role, pushing back on rumors that he was plotting a “comeback” to the pulpit.

3. Re-emergence: Podcasts, Interviews, and Public Processing

  • Around 2023–2024, Lentz began carefully reappearing, stressing that he was not “back” as a pastor, but wanted to “help give perspective” and talk honestly about his failures.
  • In mid‑2024 he announced a podcast called “Lights On with Carl Lentz,” framed as a “new chapter,” not a return to church leadership.
  • In the launch material he emphasized lines like “I’M NOT BACK” and “THAT GUY IS GONE,” signaling that he sees a clear break between his old public persona and who he claims to be now.

The early episodes, including one titled “here’s what happened,” lean into confession, regret, and behind‑the‑scenes detail about what the last four years were like for him and his family.

4. Themes He’s Talking About Now

On his podcast and in interviews, Lentz and Laura have focused on:

  • Infidelity and sex addiction: He has spoken with a sex‑addiction therapist on air, describing “soul‑searching work” and how painful the recovery process has been.
  • Impact on their kids and marriage: Episodes dive into how each child processed the scandal, and why Laura chose to stay and try to forgive rather than immediately end the marriage.
  • Faith and church leadership: He has said he doesn’t miss church leadership and has no plans to start a church again, trying to distance himself from the celebrity‑pastor model he once embodied.

Many forum discussions frame this as a mix of genuine vulnerability and savvy reputation‑rebuilding, with people split on how much they trust his new tone.

5. Latest Updates (2024–2026): What’s Happening Now?

  • In 2024, the “Lights On” podcast launched, giving him a regular platform to tell “the real story,” discuss failure, and interview his wife and therapist.
  • In a 2025 interview, he reiterated that he doesn’t miss church and has no interest in returning to traditional pastoral ministry, trying to shut down comeback speculation.
  • In early 2026, Carl and Laura announced a book, Overcoming Infidelity: 10 Conversations to Help Heal the Hurt , pitched as a practical guide for couples navigating betrayal and “relational restoration.”
  • The book is marketed as their joint attempt to turn their experience of infidelity, public shaming, and attempted reconciliation into something others can use.

6. Different Viewpoints Around Him Now

Supportive views (often seen in Christian blogs, podcasts, and some forums):

  • People point to his open discussions about addiction, therapy, and accountability as a model of doing the hard work after a fall.
  • Some believe everyone deserves a second chance, arguing that if he submits to oversight and doesn’t rush back to power, cautious restoration is possible.

Critical or skeptical views:

  • Critics say the podcast and book are still a form of platform‑rebuilding, turning a scandal into a brand.
  • Others feel his earlier sermons and celebrity‑driven style were always more “self‑help + Jesus” than deep Christian teaching, and see this as the fruit of that model.
  • There is ongoing concern about the power imbalance and abuse allegations from his former nanny, which go beyond “just” an affair.

7. Context in 2026: Why He’s Trending Again

  • As of 2026, he’s back in conversation because of three things: the podcast, ongoing interviews about his past, and the newly announced infidelity‑recovery book with Laura.
  • Every new public move reignites debates about celebrity pastors, church accountability, and whether (and how) disgraced leaders should return to any kind of platform.

TL;DR

Carl Lentz was fired from Hillsong NYC in 2020 over “moral failures,” including an extramarital affair and later abuse allegations, which destroyed his megachurch career.

Since then, he has focused on therapy and rebuilding his marriage, re‑emerged with the “Lights On” podcast, and in 2026 is releasing a book with his wife about overcoming infidelity, while insisting he has no plans to pastor again.

Note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.