close
close
Sat. Oct 12th, 2024

R Kelly’s daughter claims she was sexually assaulted by the disgraced singer

R Kelly’s daughter claims she was sexually assaulted by the disgraced singer

A composite image of R Kelly and his daughter Buku Abi (aka Joanne Kelly)

R Kelly’s daughter, Buku Abi, opened up about alleged abuse in a new documentary (Picture: Getty Images/TVEI Network)

Buku Abi, the estranged daughter of convicted sex offender R Kelly, has claimed in a harrowing new documentary that she suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her father.

The infamous rapper, who is currently serving a 19-year prison sentence (31 years total) for child sexual abuse, sex trafficking and racketeering, was first accused of child molestation by the 26-year-old on TVEI Network’s R Kelly’s Karma: The Journey of a daughter.

The two-part documentary also includes testimonials from her siblings and mother Drea Kelly, who was married to him from 1996 to 2009.

Abi, born Joanne Kelly, alleged the abuse took place in Illinois in the early 2000s.

She said: ‘He was my everything. For a long time I didn’t even want to believe it was happening. I didn’t know that even if he was a bad person, he would do something to me.

‘I was too scared to tell anyone. I was too scared to tell my mother.’

R. Kelly's daughters younger with R Kelly

The alleged abuse took place in the early 2000s (Photo: Tvei Network / YouTube)

R. Kelly's daughter Buku Abi is crying

Kelly’s daughter made the claims in an emotional new documentary (Picture: Tvei Network / YouTube)

R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton courthouse

The convicted sex offender has denied these claims (Photo: Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via AP)

She added that prison was a “very suitable place” for him, as she knew from “personal experience.”

“I really feel like that one millisecond completely changed my entire life and changed who I was as a person and changed the brilliance that I had and the light that I carried,” she continued at the end of the first episode.

“After I told my mother, I didn’t go there again; my brother (Robert) and sister (Jaah), we didn’t go there anymore. And even until now I’m having a lot of trouble with it.’

In the second episode, Abi gave more details about the alleged abuse.

She continued emotionally, “I still remember waking up when he touched me. And I didn’t know what to do, so I just lay there and pretended to be asleep.”

After finally opening up to her mother, the couple filed a complaint with the police as “Jane Doe,” per People.

R. Kelly's daughter Buku Abi talking

She found it difficult to tell anyone at the time (Picture: Tvei Network / YouTube)

R Kelly's daughter up close

Kelly is currently serving a prison sentence under multiple convictions (Photo: TVEI Network)

She added: “They couldn’t prosecute him because I waited too long. So at that point in my life I felt like I was saying something for nothing.”

Elsewhere in the documentary, Abi said the alleged abuse led to suicidal thoughts.

“I got to a point where I didn’t care anymore. “I didn’t care if I lived or died,” she explained.

Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, denied these latest claims in a statement to People.

The statement reads: “Mr. Kelly strongly denies these allegations. His ex-wife made the same accusation years ago, and it was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and found to be unfounded.

“And the ‘filmmakers,’ whoever they are, have not even approached Mr. Kelly or his team to even allow him to deny these hurtful claims.”

The former R&B artist was convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering in September 2021 after a six-week trial in Brooklyn federal court, with Judge Ann M. Donnelly concluding that he had created “a trail of broken lives.”

In February 2023, Kelly was sentenced in Chicago to 20 years in prison on charges of child pornography and enticing minors to have sex.

The Metro has contacted R Kelly’s legal representative for comment

Do you have a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or our ‘Submission of items’ page. would love to hear from you.

MORE: Celine Dion row erupts after French musicians claim Olympics performance was ‘pre-recorded’

MORE: I was drugged and raped – then had to investigate my own sexual assault

MORE: Legendary ’90s group cancels tour at the last minute due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’

TV

By Sheisoe

Related Post