Disney’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” star Joshua Bassett publicly declared his faith in Jesus Christ after being baptized at Bethel Church in Redding, California.
The actor and singer shared a video of his baptism on his social media accounts, expressing that he had grown up Christian but had strayed away from his faith in pursuit of “truth.”
However, his journey only led him to addiction, depression, suicidal ideation, and eating disorders. Bassett revealed that Jesus Christ gave him the peace that no other teacher had ever given him, leading him to publicly declare Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Bassett has been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression and his experience with sexual abuse as a child and a teenager.
In 2021, he also came out as a member of the LBGTQ+ community. Despite the outpouring of support from fans congratulating him on his baptism, many expressed concern about his association with Bethel Church, citing their questionable policies and beliefs.
After receiving backlash, Bassett posted a follow-up comment stating that he was unaware of some of the church’s policies and beliefs and did not endorse all of them. He reiterated that his heart is for Christ and Christ alone.
Some fans encouraged others to be happy for Bassett instead of criticizing his decisions and praised his positive impact on their lives.
Bassett’s public declaration of faith has sparked conversations about religion, spirituality, and personal beliefs.
Regardless of the opinions of others, it takes courage to share one’s faith publicly, and Bassett has done so with grace and humility.