T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (2024)

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T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (1)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (2)

Viral image

stated on September 20, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“TD Jakes MYSTERIOUSLY VANISHES: The search for the renowned bishop begins!”

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (3)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (4)
  • Facebook Fact-checks
  • Viral image

By Ciara O'RourkeOctober 1, 2024

If Your Time is short

  • Dallas megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes isn’t missing. He delivered a sermon Sept. 29.

See the sources for this fact-check

A Texas megachurch pastor who was mentioned in a lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs is now the target of online rumors floating the possibility he was kidnapped.

"TD Jakes MYSTERIOUSLY VANISHES: The search for the renowned bishop begins!" a Sept. 20 Facebook post said.

A video in the post claims that Bishop T.D. Jakes, who founded The Potter’s House Church in 1996 in Dallas, was "declared missing by family."

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads.)

A Jakes spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to PolitiFact’s questions about the post.

Featured Fact-check

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (6)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (7)

Instagram posts

stated on September 5, 2024 in a post

Video shows Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz dancing to Beyoncé in a cowboy hat and crop top.

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (8)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (9)

But we found no evidence, such as credible news reports or statements from the church or Jakes’ family, that he suddenly disappeared. Such rumors have been circulating online since at least May, and Jakes has appeared publicly many times since then.

Rather, several social media accounts associated with Jakes and The Potter’s House shared footage of Jakes delivering a sermon Sept. 29.

On Sept. 20, when this Facebook post about Jakes’ supposed disappearance was published, the T.D. Jakes Ministries Facebook account shared video of Jakes speaking to high schoolers in New Orleans.

What we didn’t find? "Increasingly urgent," in the words of the unfounded post about Jakes’ disappearance, calls for help locating him.

We rate this post False.

Read About Our Process

The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter

Our Sources

Facebook post, Sept. 20, 2024

@bishopjakes Instagram account, visited Sept. 30, 2024

YouTube, Trust Your Wings | Bishop T.D. Jakes, Sept. 29, 2024

The Potter’s House X account, visited Sept. 30, 2024

The Potter’s House of Dallas Facebook account, visited Sept. 30, 2024

YouTube, Serita Jakes BURST Out in tears as TD Jakes is REPORTED MISSING, AFTER Service, May 29, 2024

Austin American-Statesman, Why Dallas megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes was mentioned in lawsuit against Sean 'Diddy' Combs, March 27, 2024

NBC DFW, The Potter's House Celebrates 25 Years of Ministry, Service, July 4, 2021

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Ciara O'Rourke

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (10)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (11)

Viral image

stated on September 26, 2024 in an Instagram post:

Video shows Sean “Diddy” Combs speaking “from prison.”

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (12)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (13)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (14)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (15)

Threads posts

stated on September 27, 2024 in a Threads post:

“Weatherman loses it live on air” during broadcast about Hurricane Helene.

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (16)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (17)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (22)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (23)

Facebook posts

stated on September 25, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“Georgia coach Kirby Smart's family ends relationship with Taylor Swift: ‘We do not support her endorsement.’”

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (24)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (25)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (26)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (27)

Viral image

stated on September 20, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“TD Jakes MYSTERIOUSLY VANISHES: The search for the renowned bishop begins!”

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (28)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (29)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (30)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (31)

Viral image

stated on September 29, 2024 in an Instagram post:

“Video shows Kamala (Harris) responding to someone talking through her earrings that she allegedly wore during the Trump vs. Harris debate.”

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T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (35)

Threads posts

stated on September 18, 2024 in a Threads post:

Melania Trump “was an escort.”

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (36)

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T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (38)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (39)

Facebook posts

stated on September 23, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“Serena Williams reportedly passes away following tragic car crash in Texas.”

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (40)

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T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (43)

Facebook posts

stated on September 25, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“Elon Musk silences Taylor Swift: Shocking ban wipes out 1 million followers and costs her a staggering $72 million!”

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (44)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (45)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (46)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (47)

Instagram posts

stated on September 23, 2024 in an Instagram post:

Haitians are responsible for the disappearance of 16 cats in Bangor, Maine.

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (48)

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T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (51)

Facebook posts

stated on September 15, 2024 in a Facebook post:

Photos show a toddler “saved” by Deputy Tyler Cooper.

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (52)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (53)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (54)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (55)

Threads posts

stated on September 24, 2024 in a Threads post:

Says Donald Trump said, “Women are miserable — not sexy, not safe.”

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (56)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (57)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (58)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (59)

Facebook posts

stated on September 21, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“Taylor Swift faces a 10-game NFL ban following controversial political involvement.”

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (60)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (61)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (62)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (63)

Facebook posts

stated on September 23, 2024 in a Facebook post:

Photo shows missing couple Raymond Peterson and his wife, Sophie.

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (64)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (65)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (66)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (67)

Threads posts

stated on September 20, 2024 in a Threads post:

“Oprah is a sex trafficker. She’s been caught and now has to be escorted around” by U.S. marshals

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (68)

T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (69)

The good word: Texas megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes isn’t missing, despite online claims

  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (70)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (71)

    Eric Hovde

    stated on September 16, 2024 in Radio interview:

    Says opponent Sen. Tammy Baldwin “gave our taxpayer money to a transgender-affirming clinic … that does it without even telling parents."

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (72)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (73)
  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (74)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (75)

    Instagram posts

    stated on September 29, 2024 in Instagram posts:

    Video shows “FBI finds human remains at a McDonald’s meat supplier.”

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (76)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (77)
  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (78)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (79)

    Viral image

    stated on September 26, 2024 in an Instagram post:

    Video shows Sean “Diddy” Combs speaking “from prison.”

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (80)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (81)
  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (82)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (83)

    Threads posts

    stated on September 27, 2024 in a Threads post:

    “Weatherman loses it live on air” during broadcast about Hurricane Helene.

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (84)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (85)
  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (86)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (87)

    Viral image

    stated on September 30, 2024 in a Threads post:

    Image shows a photo of former President Donald Trump wading through floodwater after Hurricane Helene.

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (88)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (89)
  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (90)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (91)

    Donald Trump

    stated on September 29, 2024 in a rally in Erie, PA:

    Kamala Harris "let in the 13,099 convicted murderers and opposes all efforts to find them and to remove them."

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (92)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (93)
  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (94)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (95)

    Facebook posts

    stated on September 25, 2024 in a Facebook post:

    “Georgia coach Kirby Smart's family ends relationship with Taylor Swift: ‘We do not support her endorsement.’”

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (96)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (97)
  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (98)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (99)

    Viral image

    stated on September 20, 2024 in a Facebook post:

    “TD Jakes MYSTERIOUSLY VANISHES: The search for the renowned bishop begins!”

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (100)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (101)
  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (102)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (103)

    X posts

    stated on September 29, 2024 in X posts:

    A biolab caught fire in Georgia right before the 2024 election.

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (104)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (105)
  • T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (106)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (107)

    Donald Trump

    stated on September 29, 2024 in a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania:

    Vice President Kamala Harris “even wants to legalize fentanyl.”

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (108)

    T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (109)

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T.D. Jakes didn’t mysteriously vanish (2024)

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