Thaddeus Matthews, the outspoken and controversial leader of the Naked Truth Liberation and Empowerment Ministries in Memphis, Tennessee, has died at 67.
Known widely as the ‘Cussing Pastor,’ Matthews passed away on Monday in a hospital after suffering from heart failure, according to an FOX13 interview with his estranged wife, Melanie Matthews.
Matthews gained national attention for his unfiltered preaching style, often laced with profanity, which drew both criticism and admiration.
He made headlines in 2019 for hosting a twerking contest at his church, unapologetically embracing a raw and unconventional approach to ministry.
In a 2018 interview with The Christian Post, he dismissed concerns about his language.
‘I don’t really give a damn what traditional Christians think. I’m a fisher of men, and I go to people on their level. You have to get past the cussing to get the message,’ he said. ‘The cussing has drawn millions of people. Apparently, it’s drawn you, too, because you’re calling me.’
In 2012, he faced legal issues after posting child pornography on his Facebook page. He was sentenced to probation in 2015, allowing him to avoid jail time.
In 2014, Matthews was arrested and charged for clicking ‘Like’ on an online status of a woman who filed restraining order against him.
Thaddeus Matthews, the outspoken and controversial leader of the Naked Truth Liberation and Empowerment Ministries in Memphis, Tennessee , has passed away
Known widely as the ‘Cussing Pastor,’ Matthews died Monday at the age of 67 in a hospital after suffering from heart failure
Two years later, Matthews was arrested again and charged with harassment.
He also faced similar charges in 2022 for allegedly violating a protection order and Tennessee’s ‘revenge porn’ law.
In response to backlash about his preaching, Matthews also rejected the idea that his words were offensive in a biblical sense.
‘There’s a difference between “cussing” and “cursing,”‘ he explained.
‘The words we use today —motherf**ker, s**t, damn — weren’t even around in biblical times.’
‘I know a lot of people thought he was playing with God because of his vocabulary, but I know he loved God,’ Melanie told FOX13.
Matthews spent the last five months of his life in a rehabilitation facility, relearning how to walk, before ultimately succumbing to heart failure.
Despite his brash public persona and frequent run-ins with the law and child pornography charges, his estranged wife offered a different description.
Matthews gained national attention for his unfiltered preaching style, often laced with profanity, which drew both criticism and admiration
Matthews spent the last five months of his life in a rehabilitation facility, relearning how to walk, before ultimately succumbing to heart failure
‘The world saw one side of him, but the man I knew was thoughtful and kind. If he said he was your friend, he meant it. And he would go to war for those he loved,’ she said.
The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, at Greater Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church; viewing will begin at 9 a.m.
