R. Kelly’s eldest daughter Buku Abi claims in a new documentary series that she was sexually abused by her disgraced father, a convicted sex offender, when she was eight or nine years old. .
“I just remember waking up to him touching me,” the 26-year-old formerly known as Joanne Kelly told People magazine, “Karma: A Daughter’s Journey.” I looked back in tears.
The musician, who shares R. Kelly with ex-wife Drea Kelly, added in an episode of the two-part series: sleeping “
Abbi said there were times when she found it hard to believe what the “Ignition” singer allegedly did to her, but she “didn’t want to believe it happened” because he was “everything” to her. he said.
“Even if he was a bad guy, I didn’t know he would do anything to me,” she explained. “I was too scared to tell anyone. I was too scared to tell my mother.”
Lawyers for R. Kelly, who was convicted of sex trafficking and extortion in 2022 and a separate case of child pornography in 2023, have “vehemently denied” Abbi’s claims.
“His ex-wife also made the same claim years ago, which was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and was unsubstantiated,” Jennifer Bonjean claimed in People Friday. did.
“And the ‘filmmakers’, whoever they were, did not even contact Mr. Kelly or his team and allow him to deny these damaging claims.”
R. Kelly is serving a 30-year sentence for one count of extortion and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting “any woman or girl” across state lines for “immoral purposes.” It is.
He was also sentenced to 20 years in prison (a difference from his original sentence) for three counts of producing child pornography in connection with a video abusing his 14-year-old goddaughter and three counts of sexually enticing a minor. He was sentenced to a combined sentence of 19 years. .
It is scheduled to be released in 2045, when the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer will be almost 80 years old.
Meanwhile, Abi insisted in the docu-series on the TVEI streaming network that she is honest about her claims against her father.
However, she said she didn’t have the courage to tell her mother what happened until she was 10 years old. Shortly after their confession, the two filed a complaint with the police as “Jane Doe.”
However, R. Kelly was not indicted because he “waited too long.”
“So at that point in my life, I felt like I was saying something for nothing,” Abbi said.
In the document, the musician claimed that the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father caused him to struggle with mental health issues for years.
“I really feel like that one millisecond completely changed my entire life, changed me as a person, changed my spark and the light that I had,” Abi said.
“After I told my mother, I didn’t go there anymore. My brother (Robert) and sister (Jah), we didn’t go there anymore. And to this day, I… I am having a very hard time with that.”
Abi said he even had suicidal thoughts at one point because he “didn’t care” whether he “lived or died.”
The “Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta” alum said his mother was with him in the Target bathroom when he noticed his wrist was “all severed.”
“She immediately dropped everything and was asking, ‘What’s going on? Are you OK?'” Abbi said of Drea, 50.
“She was really worried. At that moment, I had to break down and say to her, ‘I don’t think I’m going to be okay.’ I don’t think I can do that.” I don’t think I’ll survive the rest of my life.”
But R. Kelly’s conviction provided some measure of resolve for all involved.
Abbi’s brother, Robert Jr., whose mother is Drea, also added in the series, “If you don’t want to go to jail, don’t do it. You’re going to be locked up in jail.”
Jah, the youngest sibling, added: “He makes his own bed and lies there.”
Doria expressed her support for the children through her Instagram Story on Friday. She reposted a video in which she said her children were “beautiful,” “strong,” and “the best things” in life.
“I love eggs!” the professional dancer, who was married to R. Kelly from 1996 to 2009, wrote in the post.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226 or commit suicide. Call or text Crisis Lifeline (988).
