Days after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down R. Kelly’s appeal of his 20-year federal conviction on charges involving child pornography and his trapping of underage girls to have sex with him, the disgraced R&B singer’s daughter has shared her own truth.
Buku Abi, eldest daughter of the “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number” producer and his ex-wife Drea Kelly, born Joann Kelly, came forward to reveal that her father molested her.
R. Kelly’s daughter, Buku, says she was sexually abused by him as a child:
“He was my everything. For a long time, I didn’t even want to believe that it happened. I didn’t know that even if he was a bad person that he would do something to me. I was too scared to tell anybody. I… pic.twitter.com/939kAUmsME
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 11, 2024
Buku said she will never bring her son to visit his grandad in prison.
During an interview with Osei the Dark Secret on “The Culture Club Uncensored,” Drea shared that she had not spoken to Kelly in about a decade.
When asked how he was a dad, Drea was quick to say, “horrible,” noting that the singer confused being a “provider” with being a “father.”
In the interview, she alluded to the disconnect between him and the children as being his being too busy working to make time for them.
Osei broached the conversation about the adult children’s relationship with their father after his conviction, and the choreographer said, “I really don’t know. They’re adults now.”
“I have stepped away,” she explained. “When Robert, Jr. turned 18, I was like, ‘Whatever you decide from this point… If you want to call him, you don’t have to get permission. If you want to go visit him in jail, you don’t have to get my permission. You’re a young adult. Now, that is up to you.”
The longtime dancer’s opinion is that her relationship as Kelly’s ex-wife is different than being one of his children, which allows her to “separate” from him much easier. “They share DNA,” she said.
Drea, who maintains she keeps her ex-husband’s name because of her children, has spoken out about her daughter’s recent allegations in the documentary, saying she is proud of her daughter.
“To say I am proud of Joann Arielle Kelly does no justice for your level of bravery and courage @buku.abi you’re a voice for the voiceless. For those that are told you should be seen and NOT HEARD you speak,” Drea wrote in the comment section of a post promoting the series.
“Keep going and NEVER LOOK BACK PRETTY FACE. Your sister & brother are your team captains and I will be your cheerleader until my last breath! Because of YOU I am a survivor. I owe my life to you . I love you with my whole heart,”
Kelly, however, through his legal team, has issued a statement to People denying the accusations.
“Mr. Kelly vehemently denies these allegations. His ex-wife made the same allegation years ago, and it was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and was unfounded…. And the ‘filmmakers,’ whoever they are, did not reach out to Mr. Kelly or his team to even allow him to deny these hurtful claims,” attorney Jennifer Bonjean stated.
Kelly is currently serving a total of 31 years in prison. A federal judge sentenced “The Pied Piper of R&B” to 20 years in prison for child pornography and luring minors for sex, including his 14-year-old goddaughter. Many of his crimes were exposed in the six-part docuseries, “Surviving R. Kelly,” which revealed decades-worth of alleged sexual misconduct and abuse of underage girls and young women of color.
The court ruled that all but one year of the prison sentence would be served at the concurrently with a previous 30-year sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking, from his 2021 case in Brooklyn.
The two-episode “R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey” can be viewed on the TVEI Streaming Network.
Conclusion:
The case of R. Kelly’s sexual abuse and exploitation of his own daughter is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of sexual abuse on individuals and their families. It is essential for survivors of sexual abuse to be heard and believe, and for offenders to be held accountable for their actions.
FAQs:
Q: What are the allegations against R. Kelly?
A: R. Kelly has been accused of child pornography and luring minors for sex, including his daughter.
Q: What is the outcome of the case?
A: R. Kelly is currently serving 20 years in prison for child pornography and luring minors for sex, and 30 years for racketeering and sex trafficking.
Q: Has R. Kelly denied the allegations?
A: Yes, R. Kelly has denied the allegations through his legal team.
Q: What is the name of the documentary series?
A: The documentary series is titled “R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey.”
Q: Can I watch the documentary series?
A: Yes, the two-episode series can be viewed on the TVEI Streaming Network.