Megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant is facing renewed scrutiny after a woman publicly alleged that he has been largely absent from the life of a son she claims he fathered more than a decade ago.
Latoya Shawntee Odom, 44, made the allegations during an interview with online personality Tasha K, portions of which were released ahead of the full interview scheduled to air on Father's Day. In the interview, Odom claimed that Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia, has had little involvement in the life of her nearly 11-year-old son, John Karston Bryant.
According to Odom, Bryant has not maintained a meaningful relationship with the child despite publicly advocating for active fatherhood and regularly encouraging Black men to be present in the lives of their children and families.
"He never has been," Odom said when asked whether Bryant had been present as a father to her son.
She also claimed that child support payments have been minimal, alleging that the most recent payment she received was $96.
Despite the alleged lack of involvement, Odom said her son continues to express affection for his father. Recounting a childhood memory, she said her son repeatedly asked to see Bryant when he was a toddler. Odom claimed she eventually arranged a meeting in Atlanta but was disappointed by the outcome.
"Do you know Jamal never touched him? Just looked at him," she alleged during the interview.
The allegations have generated significant attention because Bryant has frequently spoken about the importance of fatherhood from the pulpit. Over the years, he has used Father's Day messages and public appearances to emphasize the role fathers play in strengthening families, reducing violence, and helping children thrive.
The claims also revive a controversy that first surfaced in 2016 while Bryant was leading Empowerment Temple Church in Baltimore. At that time, Odom presented the results of a paternity test that allegedly showed a 99.9999% probability that Bryant was the father of her son. The test was reportedly conducted by LB Genetics shortly after the child's birth in 2015.
Odom further alleged that Bryant asked her to terminate the pregnancy, a claim that has circulated for years but has never been publicly addressed in detail by the pastor.
During the interview, she recounted meeting Bryant through social media and later being invited to provide massage therapy services. She alleged that the two engaged in a sexual relationship after meeting in person while Bryant was reportedly going through marital difficulties.
Representatives for Bryant did not immediately provide a response to the allegations when contacted by media outlets.
The controversy comes as Bryant remains one of the most influential pastors in the Black church community. In addition to leading New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, he is widely known for his activism, social justice advocacy, and outspoken commentary on issues affecting African American communities.
With the full interview scheduled for release on Father's Day, additional details regarding Odom's allegations are expected to emerge in the coming days. Whether Bryant chooses to publicly respond could significantly shape the conversation surrounding the claims, particularly given his longstanding emphasis on fatherhood and family responsibility.
As of now, Bryant has not issued a public statement addressing the latest allegations.
