Victims of former Roast Buster Joseph Parker are in disbelief he's recorded a song referencing the 2013 underage sex scandal - saying it's just "gross" and "wrong".
The 23-year-old broke his silence on Monday night, apologising to the victims of his controversial west Auckland group.
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Mr Parker claims he is born again. But some of his victims say they have no forgiveness.
In 2013, the Roast Busters' online naming and shaming of girls stunned the country. Two they're accused of having underage sex with were just 13.
Just days ago, Mr Parker launched a crowd funding campaign to promote his career. He has recorded a song in Los Angeles that's offended his victims here. It's religious in one breath, confronting in the next.
"I know they'll say I'm not worth it, but I know I know my God is perfect," he sings.
But he denies it's an attempt at publicity to capitalise on what he did to a lot of young women.
"I would hope that they don't think that," he told Newshub. "It's more of a declaration; it's me saying I want to turn the things I have done bad in my life into things that are good."
But three of Mr Parker's victims have expressed to Newshub their utter disbelief that he's written a song about this traumatic chapter of their lives.
One, who laid a rape complaint against him in 2013, said it was just wrong to mix God with what she called a criminal offence. She said while he's been in the US, she's been back here dealing with this - and it still affects her to this day.
"He can explain this as much as he likes, but he's done his damage," she says, adding that she cannot forgive him.
So why did he need to talk about his victims in his lyrics?
"I've been making music since before the Roast Busters - and naturally, as an artist, you write about your life, things that impact you," Mr Parker says.
He insists it wasn't his intention to re-victimise young women by writing about it in a song.
Newshub alerted police it had conducted an interview with Mr Parker, and officers contacted many of the victims to warn them that the stories were going to air. Newshub also did the same.
When asked why he didn't offer an apology in his lyrics, Mr Parker said: "I'm here doing this and I've privately apologised to some girls".
The born-again Christian claims he's been off the booze and cannabis for years, and that life now revolves around church.
"I'm kind of a nerd, kind of a loser in the traditional sense," he told Newshub.
"I've been saving myself for marriage, the last time I went to a party was when I was in New Zealand four years ago."
But Mr Parker's past may yet catch up with him.
Operation Clover identified seven victims - and while no charges were laid, police stress there's no time limit on reporting sexual offending.
Mr Parker says he's not worried about the prospect of future charges still being a possibility.
"No, 'cause I know that everything that happens is for the good of God," he explained.
"So I don't fear anything that happens in the future. I'm pretty content with the will of God regardless of what happens."
Mr Parker may've found a way to move on from the damage the Roast Busters caused. His victims, though, say they are still haunted by it every day.
Where to find help and support:
Anyone affected by sexual harm can contact Safe to talk. It's for survivors, concerned whānau and people who have harmed others or who may be thinking about harming others.
- Safe to talk is available 24 hours, seven days a week by:
- Calling: 0800 044 334
- Texting: 4334
- Emailing: support@safetotalk.nz
- Live webchat on www.safetotalk.nz that also has a range of great resources and information about sexual harm.
Newshub.
