The deeply troubling legacy of R. Kelly continues to haunt, as his daughter, Buku Abi, recently opened up about the harrowing experiences she endured growing up as the child of the disgraced singer. The I Believe I Can Fly artist, already imprisoned for a series of sexual assault convictions involving women and young girls, faces even more damning accusations—this time from his own blood.
Buku Abi’s revelations have sent shockwaves through social media, where horrified users are grappling with the gravity of her story. In a documentary titled R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, she recounted the disturbing abuse she says she experienced at her father’s hands.
Buku Abi, born Joann Kelly, recalled that her father’s abusive behavior did not spare even her. She revealed that when she was just eight years old, R. Kelly sexually abused her, leaving her confused and traumatised.
Describing a chilling incident, she said, “I pretended to sleep because I didn’t know what else to do.” She admitted that, for years, she suppressed the memory, unsure whether it was even real.
Years later, Abi confided in her mother, Andrea Kelly, who filed a police report in 2009. Unfortunately, the case went nowhere, dismissed because too much time had passed. Despite the lack of legal resolution, Abi’s journey to healing began with this admission, and her recent decision to go public with her story marks a significant step toward reclaiming her own narrative.
In an Instagram post following the documentary’s release, Buku clarified her reasons for sharing her truth. “This was for my mental health,” she wrote, emphasising that she has found peace despite the trauma. Remarkably, she added that she does not hate her father, even after everything. “I don’t hate him. I just needed to speak my truth for my own healing.”
Click lin to view her statement:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DA_tGm2vY3L/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
R. Kelly’s rise to fame as one of R&B’s most celebrated artists is now overshadowed by his heinous actions. Hits like Ignition (Remix) and I Believe I Can Fly once cemented his place in music history, but his reputation has since crumbled under the weight of decades of allegations of sexual misconduct.
In February 2023, after years of public outcry and a prolonged legal battle, R. Kelly was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting multiple women and girls. For many, his imprisonment was seen as long-overdue justice, particularly for his survivors, whose voices had long been silenced.
R. Kelly’s legal defense continues to push back against the recent accusations made by his daughter, Buku Abi. His attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, responded to the allegations, emphasising that Kelly denies all claims of abuse. Bonjean pointed out that similar accusations had been raised in the past by his ex-wife, Andrea Kelly, but after an investigation by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services, they were deemed unfounded. The defense maintains that these new revelations are a reiteration of earlier, unsubstantiated claims
