'There's no baby': Pastor John Gray addresses 'emotional affair' on 'The Real' talk show

Pastor John Gray, of Relentless Church in Greenville, appeared on a daytime talk show Monday with his wife and said he had an "emotional affair" but not a sexual one, addressing monthslong rumors about his alleged infidelity.

Adrienne Bailon, one of the co-hosts of "The Real," asked Gray directly if he had an affair.

"The answer is no. I didn't," Gray said, drawing applause from his wife, Aventer, as she sat next to him.

"Over a year ago, my wife and I were in a very difficult place in our marriage, and in that time, I began to converse with someone — other than a counselor, other than a pastoral leader, which is where I should have taken my issues and challenges — and began to converse, and I was even in the presence of that person one time. But being in the presence of someone is not the same as sleeping with them. I did not sleep with anyone."

Gray added that other rumors also are untrue.

"There's no baby, none of that," he said. "It's important for me to take responsibility for the areas where I did come up short. Sharing things about my marriage, outside of my wife and outside of trusted counselors, is an emotional affair. It was wrong. I take responsibility for that. But I will not take responsibility for that which I did not do."

After video surfaced on social media of Gray buying his wife a Lamborghini for their anniversary in late 2018, he was publicly criticized for the lavish purchase.

Gray had addressed his marital difficulties shortly after he became pastor at Relentless Church in May 2018. Video of that sermon had resurfaced as he was being scrutinized, and rumors surfaced that he had bought the Lamborghini to make up for allegedly cheating on his wife.

"People act like this is something brand new," Gray said on the show Monday. "But we've walked through this. We have peace. But people don't."

More:In 'The Real' interview, Pastor John Gray explains buying wife $200K Lamborghini

It was the most open Gray has been about his marriage difficulties. He has previously referred to it but not directly in his sermons.

In a statement to The Greenville News in January, Gray's spokeswoman said the couple is like others: They take the good and the bad, and have found a new love for each other as Gray became a head pastor.

"They are on a new adventure and Our Relentless is a lifetime goal being manifested," spokeswoman Holly Baird said in the statement, in response to questions.

During the Monday TV interview, Gray defended his visit with President Trump at the White House, as well as buying his wife a $200K Lamborghini.