Pastor Jamal Bryant Admits Narcissism Led to Infidelity

Pastor Jamal Bryant, leader of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, has opened up about the infidelity scandal that rocked his personal and professional life in 2016. During a candid conversation on Kandi Burruss’ podcast, ‘Speak On It,’ Bryant attributed his actions to “narcissism,” a term he used to describe his self-centered mindset at the time.

Confessions of Narcissism and Infidelity

Bryant, 54, admitted that when news broke about him fathering a child with a parishioner while married to ‘RHOP’ star Gizelle Bryant, he felt like a complete “narcissist.” He explained his mindset during that period: “Narcissism is a fancy word for selfish… I wasn’t thinking on how will this affect my daughter? How would this affect my marriage? How does it affect my ministry? It was just, ‘What will this do for me?’” This self-reflection came during a raw interview where he detailed the consequences of his infidelity, including welcoming his son, John Karston Bryant, with Latoya Shawntee Odom in 2016.

The pastor revealed that the fallout from his confession led to suicidal ideations. At the height of his ministry, having grown his congregation to 10,000 members at Baltimore’s Empowerment Temple and enjoying a seemingly happy marriage with Gizelle since 2002, the revelation of his affair sent shockwaves through his life. Gizelle initially filed for divorce in 2009 due to his infidelity, though they reconciled in 2019. The couple shares three daughters.

Navigating the Fallout and Finding Forgiveness

Bryant described wearing a “tattoo of shame” for years, recalling an encounter with a TSA agent who offered words of encouragement after the story became national news. The backlash also impacted his ministry, causing his congregation to shrink significantly. The intense criticism led him to struggle with suicidal thoughts, feeling overwhelmed and trapped. “I felt like the walls were coming in and I didn’t have anywhere to go.”

When asked by Kandi how he navigated this difficult period, Bryant credited “Prayer” as his “oxygen.” He emphasized the need for an “alternative space” and an “outer body experience” to step back and gain perspective on himself. The religious leader, who joined New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in 2018, stated that he eventually learned to forgive himself, recognizing that “What I did is not who I am.”

Relationships and Moving Forward

Despite attempts to repair his marriage to Gizelle, the couple divorced permanently in 2021. Bryant later married Dr. Karri Turner in 2024. Reflecting on their past, Gizelle Bryant shared at BravoCon 2023 that while they had known each other for over 20 years and shared three daughters, he was in a “different mental space.” She explained that she felt compelled to try and reconcile for the family’s sake, but ultimately, it didn’t work out.