R. Kelly’s daughter Buku Abi claims singer sexually abused her as a child in new documentary

R. Kelly’s eldest daughter, Buku Abi, has made shocking allegations of child abuse by her father, the disgraced R&B singer who is currently serving a 30-year prison sentence for sex trafficking and related crimes. The allegations were revealed in a new two-part docuseries, Karma: a daughter’s journeywhere Abi, formerly known as Joann Kelly, talks about the trauma she experienced growing up with her father.

In an emotional part of the series, Abi, now 26, tearfully recalls the abuse that is said to have started when she was about 8 or 9 years old. “I remember waking up to him touching me,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do, so I just lay there and pretended to be asleep.” Abi, the daughter of R. Kelly and his ex-wife Drea Kelly, admitted she struggled to come to terms with what happened, stating that her father was her “everything” at the time.

“I didn’t even want to believe it was happening,” she explained. “I was too scared to tell anyone. I was too scared to tell my mother.”

The series sheds light on the long-term effects of the alleged abuse, with Abi revealing that she suffered from serious mental health issues, including thoughts of suicide, as a result of her experiences. “I really feel like that one millisecond completely changed my entire life, who I was as a person,” she said. The artist further explained that it took her two years to tell her mother about the abuse. After confiding in her at the age of ten, they filed a complaint with the police under the name ‘Jane Doe’. However, Abi said that due to the delay in reporting the incident, no legal action was taken.

In response to these claims, R. Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, vehemently denied the allegations. “His ex-wife made the same allegation years ago, and it was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and found to be unfounded,” Bonjean said in response People. She further criticized the filmmakers for not contacting Kelly or his legal team for an explanation, labeling the allegations as “hurtful” and lacking credibility.

Despite continued denials from Kelly’s legal team, Abi remains steadfast in her story and insists the trauma has haunted her for years. “After I told my mother, I stopped going there. My brother (Robert Jr.) and sister (Jaah) stopped going there,” she said. In the documentary, Abi also describes a particularly poignant moment when her mother, Drea, discovered she had slit her wrists in a Target bathroom due to overwhelming emotional pain. “She was really worried,” Abi recalled. “I had to tell her, ‘I don’t think I’m doing well. I don’t think I can do this.'”

The docuseries also features reflections from other family members, including Abi’s younger siblings and her mother, who left R. Kelly in 2009 after years of alleged abuse. In the documentary, her brother, Robert Jr., addresses his father’s legal demise, saying bluntly, “If you don’t want to go to jail, don’t do things… you’ll be locked up.”

The charges come as R. Kelly continues to serve his prison sentence. In addition to his 30-year prison sentence for sex trafficking and racketeering, the singer also received a 20-year prison sentence on child pornography charges, with an additional 19 years in prison. He will be eligible for release in 2045.

Karma: a daughter’s journey explores the impact of Kelly’s actions on his family as they try to move on with their lives. Abi, who is expecting her first child, shares her journey of healing, while her mother and siblings offer their own perspectives on life in the shadow of Kelly’s legacy.

The docuseries is currently streaming on TVEI Streaming Network and offers a rare glimpse into the personal toll that high-profile scandals can take on the families involved.

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-422-4453.