Sport & Entertainment
USA | Oct 12, 2024

R Kelly’s daughter claims he molested her

ABIGAIL BARRETT

ABIGAIL BARRETT / Our Today

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Screenshot of Joann ‘Buku Abi’ Kelly. (Photo: TVEI docuseries)

R Kelly’s first daughter Joann ‘Buku Abi’ Kelly, claims in a new TVEI docuseries that her father, King of R&B and now convicted sex offender, molested her when she was pre-teen.

Abi, who is a singer, is the daughter of Kelly’s ex-wife Drea Kelly, said in an episode from the two-part series, “I didn’t know what to do, so I just kind of laid there, and I pretended to be asleep.”

“I just remember waking up to him touching me,” she added, according to People.

“I really feel like that one millisecond completely just changed my whole life and changed who I was as a person and changed the sparkle I had and the light I used to carry,” Abi said.

Drea, also featured in the docuseries can be seen crying as she gave her account. “What he did to me he did to me…but he didn’t have to do it to my damn kids!” she said.

Screenshot (from left) R Kelly, Joann ‘Buku Abi’ Kelly, and Drea Kelly. (Photo: TVEI docuseries)

“After I told my mom, I didn’t go over there anymore; my brother and sister, we didn’t go over there anymore. And even up until now, I struggle with it a lot.”

Abi said she even became suicidal at one point because she just “didn’t care” if she “lived or died”.

R Kelly’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean released a statement noting that he “vehemently denies these allegations”, noting that Drea made these same claims years ago after the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigated, and found no evidence.

The statement went on the chastise the filmmakers for not reaching out to Kelly for his side of the story, noting that they did not “even allow him to deny these hurtful claims”.

The docuseries is now out for viewing on TVEI’s subscription-based platform.

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