JP Miller's best man Mark Kaufman breaks silence after Netflix's Death of a Pastor's Wife

Death of a Pastor’s Wife has taken Netflix by storm, remaining at number two on the streamer’s charts worldwide behind only The Gentlemen.

The doc follows the death of Mica Miller and accusations of abuse levied at her husband at the time of her death, John-Paul Miller, who himself has come under fire for continuing to preach in a new church despite the allegations.

Mark Kaufman, JP’s best man and former best friend, is featured heavily in the Netflix documentary. JP has been accused of cyberstalking her through incessant phone calls and hiring a private investigator to follow her, claims he denies, however footage in the doc shows Mark calling Mica ‘for the benefit of both her and JP’.

He has now spoken out for the first time since the documentary was released which brought him under fire himself for his support of the controversial pastor.

Kaufman denied online rumours he played a part in Mica’s death and called her his friend in emotional statement

Kaufman denied having any part in MIca's death after online rumours (Netflix)

The former best man released an emotional statement to People where he addressed ‘public discussion’ and online rumours suggesting he may have had something to do with Mica’s death.

He said that the documentary has ‘brought renewed attention to the tragic death of Mica Miller and has also resulted in my name, my relationships, and my business becoming part of the public discussion surrounding her death’.

Kaufman added that Mica was his friend and that seeing speculation and allegations against him and his friends and family has ‘taken a significant toll’, continuing: “I want to address several claims and implications about me directly. On the day Mica died, I was at home with my children. I did not learn of her death until approximately 11 p.m. that night, when I was at work.

“Any implication, insinuation, or statement suggesting that I had anything to do with Mica’s death or with any crime connected to her is completely false.”

He also denied allegations in the doc that he had picked a woman up from the airport so that JP could cheat on Mica with her, but this was not a defence of his former friend as he stated that their relationship had been ‘mischaracterized’ in public discussions.

Kaufman claimed his relationship with JP had been ‘mischaracterized’ and hit out at the inclusion of a phone call in Netflix’s doc

In the statement he went on to state that JP had ‘never been part of the core group of friends with whom he regularly spends time’, adding: “I have since severed my ties with John Paul and with the church.”

The business owner also addressed the excerpt of his phone call with Mica, positioned in the doc to imply he was intimidating her.

He states this created a ‘misleading impression’ about his role in their marriage, adding: “I was not closely involved in or fully aware of the extent of the problems within their marriage. A short portion of one conversation cannot provide the complete context of that exchange or accurately define my relationship with either of them.

“I never witnessed John Paul abuse Mica. Had I witnessed abuse or believed that Mica was in danger, I would not have ignored it.

“Mica’s death was a tragedy, and like many people who knew and cared about her, I have had to process the loss of a friend while also watching this story unfold publicly. My hope is that, even amid the attention generated by the Netflix series, there remains room for facts, fairness, and respect for everyone affected.”

Where is Mark Kaufman now?

Mark Kaufman denied claims that JP was still a co-owner of his bar Crocodile Rocks (Facebook)

Kaufman is the co-owner of a piano bar Crocodile Rocks in Myrtle Beach.

He also performs there however speculation around the bar began after claims in the doc that JP was a co-owner and that people who knew him from the bar were ‘surprised’ he was a pastor.

The bar owner suggested in his statement to People however that, despite speculation around this, JP is no longer an owner of shares in the bar and that he bought out his minority stake last year.

Kaufman also claims that, after Mica’s death, JP was banned from Crocodile Rocks.