The conviction of R&B singer R. Kelly on multiple counts of sexual abuse and exploitation sent shockwaves through the music industry and beyond. However, the most profound impact was felt within his own family, who have grappled with the revelations and their personal experiences.
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Joann “Buku Abi” Kelly: A Daughter's Painful Revelation
In the documentary R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, Joann Kelly, who goes by the stage name Buku Abi, shares her harrowing experience of alleged sexual abuse by her father during her childhood.
“He was my everything,” she tearfully recalls. “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” .
Joann alleges that the abuse occurred when she was around 8 or 9 years old, describing waking up to her father touching her and being too scared to tell anyone at the time .
The trauma led her to spend time in a psychiatric facility and contemplate suicide, highlighting the deep psychological scars inflicted by the abuse .
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Drea Kelly: A Mother's Anguish
Andrea “Drea” Kelly, R. Kelly's ex-wife and mother to his three children, has been vocal about the abuse she endured during their marriage. In the documentary, she expresses her devastation upon learning about her daughter's experiences.
“Just because you're not a good husband doesn't mean you're not a good father, and the fact that he didn't even try,” Drea says emotionally. “What he did to me, he did to me—but you didn't have to do it to my damn kids” .
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Family's Collective Stance
The documentary features other family members, including Joann's siblings and grandparents, who express their condemnation of R. Kelly's actions. Joann's grandmother, Melissa Lee, refers to him as a "monster," stating, “He should not live. I think putting him in jail is too easy” .
Joann emphasizes her decision to keep her son away from his grandfather, stating, “If my son asks questions, I’m going to be as truthful as possible. And I will not be taking my son to prison to meet his grandfather” .
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R. Kelly's Response
R. Kelly has denied the allegations made by his daughter. His attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, stated that the singer "vehemently denies these allegations" and claimed that previous investigations by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services found the allegations to be unfounded .