Joshua Broome, a former porn star turned pastor, is speaking out about the controversy surrounding a social media post showing Christian music artists Forrest Frank and Cory Asbury posing shirtless after a workout.
Earlier this week, Asbury posted a video on social media explaining why he shared the photo and then deleted it.
“I guess there was a little controversy over that on the internet that I just decided, in talking with Forrest and Tony, we’re just going to take that photo down,” Asbury said. “That doesn’t need to live on the internet as a thing of offense that could possibly be a stumbling block.”
RELATED: Cory Asbury Apologizes for Shirtless Photo With Forrest Frank After Modesty Backlash
“I realize a lot of different people share a lot of different opinions on modesty, and maybe one day we’ll weigh in on that,” he added, “but for now, we just want to go ahead and take that down in humility and just say, it doesn’t matter that much for us to post what we’re looking like if it’s causing people offense. It’s just not necessary.”
Asbury concluded his video by apologizing for any offense he might have caused.
Joshua Broome Encourages People To Examine Their Hearts If a ‘Shirtless Photo Undoes You’
Broome was a star in the adult film industry for six years before coming to faith in Jesus and becoming a pastor and ministry speaker. Broome now travels sharing his testimony and equipping the church to fight against sexual sin.
“Modesty is worth talking about. This outrage is not about modesty,” he posted on social media regarding Frank and Asbury’s photo.
Broome went on to share statistics from a 2024 Barna Group study.
“Barna Group did a 2024 study with Pure Desire Ministries that found that 54 percent of practicing Christians view pornography at least occasionally,” he said. “[Twenty-two] percent view it weekly or daily. 75 percent of Christian men. 40 percent of Christian women.”
“A church that has been feeding on porn will sexualize anything,” he continued. “Three guys after a workout. A woman in a sundress. A stranger in a grocery store. That is not always discernment. That is a symptom often of legalism or even more likely a heart and mind trained to objectify and sexualize people.”
Broome then praised Asbury for displaying maturity in apologizing but said he didn’t have to.
“Cory Asbury took the photo down and apologized,” Broome said. “That took maturity, and I respect it. He also did not have to. Deferring to a weaker believer is a mark of love, not an admission that the weaker party was right.”
Broome concluded his post by encouraging people to check their hearts.
“So do a heart check right now, if a shirtless photo undoes you, the person who posted the photo might not be the problem,” he said. “What you look at, listen to, or what you are reading when nobody is watching is the bigger problem.”
‘That Photo Was Not Sexual’—Ruslan Says Maybe You ‘Shouldn’t Be On Social Media’
Christian YouTuber Ruslan also pushed back on some of the criticism surrounding the photo, arguing that Christians should take personal responsibility for what they consume on social media rather than immediately blaming others for causing them to stumble.
Facts Only
* Cory Asbury posted a video explaining why he shared a photo of Forrest Frank and himself posing shirtless after a workout, followed by deletion.
* Asbury stated the photo was taken down because it could cause offense and be a stumbling block.
* Joshua Broome commented that modesty is worth discussing and this outrage is not about modesty.
* Broome cited a 2024 Barna Group study showing that 54 percent of practicing Christians view pornography at least occasionally.
* Broome suggested that environments fed by pornography can sexualize other contexts.
* Broome commented that taking down the photo and apologizing demonstrated maturity, but deferred to the other party is an act of love.
* Broome encouraged people to perform a heart check if such photos cause distress, suggesting the poster may not be the primary problem.
Executive Summary
A social media post featuring Christian music artists Forrest Frank and Cory Asbury, showing them shirtless after a workout, became the subject of controversy. Cory Asbury posted a video explaining his decision to share the photo and subsequently deleted it. Asbury stated that he and Forrest Frank decided to remove the photo because it could cause offense and act as a stumbling block online. He acknowledged differing opinions on modesty but emphasized that for the time being, they chose to remove it out of humility.
Joshua Broome, a former adult film star who became a pastor, commented on the situation, focusing on the concept of modesty rather than the outrage itself. Broome shared statistics from a 2024 Barna Group study indicating that 54 percent of practicing Christians view pornography at least occasionally. He suggested that an environment fed by pornography can sexualize other contexts, leading to questioning whether certain reactions stem from legalism or a predisposition to objectify others. Broome respected Asbury’s action of removing the photo and apologizing but argued that deferring to a weaker party is an act of love, not necessarily an admission of fault. He concluded by urging individuals to examine their own hearts when presented with such images.