From People
R. Kelly’s daughter Buku Abi is speaking out publicly for the first time about the alleged abuse she suffered during her childhood at the hands of her father.
The final minutes of TVEI Streaming Network's new two-episode documentary Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, which premiered today, claim that Abi, 26, was abused by the singer as a child, and first reported it to her mother Andrea in 2009, when she was 10 years old.
“He was my everything. 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,” she says in the documentary, the first episode of which is streaming now. “I was too scared to tell anybody. I was too scared to tell my mom.”
Though Abi, who was born Joann Kelly, does not go into detail about the alleged abuse in the first episode, she says that she believes jail is a “well-suited place” for Kelly, 57, to be, as she knows from her “personal experience.”
“I really feel like that one millisecond completely just changed my whole life and changed who I was as a person and changed the sparkle I had and the light I used to carry,” she says. “After I told my mom, I didn’t go over there anymore; my brother [Robert] and sister [Jaah], we didn’t go over there anymore. And even up until now I struggle with it a lot.”
The episode ends with information about delayed disclosure, which explains that many victims of child sex abuse wait years or decades to reveal what happened to them.
In the second episode, Buku goes into more detail about the alleged abuse, which she says happened when she was 8 or 9. "I just remember waking up to him touching me," she recalls, crying. "And I didn’t know what to do, so I just kind of laid there, and I pretended to be asleep."
Buku says she eventually told her mother what happened, and they went to the police and filed a complaint as "Jane Doe," but, she adds in the documentary, "They couldn’t prosecute him because I waited too long. So at that point in my life, I felt like I said something for nothing."
In a statement to PEOPLE, Kelly's attorney Jennifer Bonjean said, "Mr. Kelly vehemently denies these allegations. His ex-wife made the same allegation years ago, and it was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and was unfounded.... And the 'filmmakers,' whoever they are, did not reach out to Mr. Kelly or his team to even allow him to deny these hurtful claims."
35 comments:
OK it's going to get high ratings. I really am over his story but this has picked my interest.
Not Mine. I don't wanna hear stories of a daughter finally sharing her One Sided Story of Molestation.
My first thought is that this girl needs money for living how she was accustomed to living before her dad got locked up-thus the reason for this story RN.
I just offer prayers that ALL INVOLVED will recover from what may or may not have occurred within their families.
So, while they were doing the Surviving R. Kelly series, Drea knew this and was crying about child support??!! I’m not watching this!
He peed on like a 13 yr old. Why would this be a stretch to believe.
I called this in the last post. I knew she was gonna say this. Not sure why she waited so long to share but I guess it's her pain so she can do with it whatever she wants. Timing is a little interesting though. Too bad she waited to put it on a public stage and didn't mention it when his other victims spoke out.
Does anyone else remember that Essence Magazine interview where Andrea Kelly was defending Robert Sylvester Kelly, saying how she didn't believe the allegations and how she refused to look at the video, to determine if her husband was on tape, pe.eing on little girls? I've hated that b*tch since. No matter who her husband destroyed, she always found a way to center herself as the ultimate victim. I feel bad for his son, who was molested, but as far as I'm concerned, Andrea is JUST as guilty. Because she turned a blind eye to his love of kids, until her own was targeted.
I REALLY Wish that These people will seek counseling INSTEAD of further degrading this dude's rep on a public domain/through the media.
WE CANNOT HELP THEM-THAT'S A JOB FOR THERAPISTS.
It's their pain and they get to choose how and when it gets released. Some of you Snitchers just sound ignorant.
This is 3:54. The child he touched was his daughter, apologies for that, but I stand by everything else.
I BELIEVE HER… the sad part is these tv networks exploit g this young lady’s trauma for ratings. We live in a col hearted world 🥶
what a family will donfor money dont beleive one word
@4:54 PM Me neither cause #1 there is no statue of limitations on molestation and why not include this in the Surviving series...not victim shaming but I do not believe it a millisecond maybe he thought it was Drea sleeping next to him after 5 I could no longer sleep in their bed.
^ There is surely a SOL on molestation
@4:40PM
The Media Ain't the ONLY Ones Exploiting this individual for Ratings/Attention. This person as well as her Mother IS DOING THE MOST as well Not Caring about How this Will effect her Dad while he's in prison with Other Inmates By Sharing This Information PUBLICLY.
I Agree With 3:56 PM, THIS IS Something for Therapists to help them work out NOT For Us To Help them through.
Y'all disgusting in these comments.
If it's true, sorry for her pain.
Hopefully the children are receiving some kind of therapy themselves to break the cycle. R Kelly was molested as a child too.
It's true.
She was $exually provactive around
His yes men who visited/worked in his
Mansion in suburban Chicago.
I AGREE WITH 8:40PM. Nothing we can do for her but pray she & the rest of the kids receive therapy to treat & break the cycle of this type of circumstance.
If she's making it up, as many folks believe that she is doing just that, then she needs THEARPY to Treat HER Illness.
she need THERAPY, NOT THEARPY, My Bad
Ya’ll a some horrible humans , victim blaming
RECEIVES THERAPY & based on that Documentary THAT HER MAMA Participated ..." is What I meant.
@5:39PM....@4:54PM was right there is no SOL on Molestation in Illinois both criminally or civil Illinois is only 1 one 8 states that has this law. Not victim shaming momma Drea over there dancing and lipsycing to R Kelly two years back I wouldn't be dancing to a man song who molested my child. Drea knew every thing..Needs to be in jail.
Here is what I am not understanding. If Drea made the complaint years ago, why was she bragging on R. Kelly a few years ago until the heat got too hot? I remember her speaking like he was the greatest before finally cringe in when it no longer served her. So was she loyal to her daughter or not.
*caving, not cringe*
11 :19, Drea is sounding like a mom who may not have 100 % protected her daughter because she enjoyed the privilege of being connected to a famous man. She may have stopped the alone visits but never stopped subjecting that girl to the knowledge her mom still wanted him and bragged on her abuser. Smh. It's not sounding normal. Maybe we are missing some pieces. I remember when I was assaulted by my big brother's friend, I almost had a nervous breakdown at 13 because my mom allowed him to come back around after some time passed when I didn't want him around, period. Having safeguards doesn't stop the PTSD from SA. We simply don't ever want to see them again or hear people speak of them cheerfully. It's nothing worse than knowing people like your abuser.
i dont believe her she just wants a check, yall should have thought about this before you and ya mama took ya daddy out duhhhhh
Some people would sacrifice their own kids and stand 10 toes down for an abusive man, especially one with money. You can read their thoughts and excuses right here in this comment section
2:02 pm
THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, AT LEAST NOT WITH WHAT I POSTED.
IF RK IS GUILTY HE'S ALREADY DOING NOW 27 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SIMILAR CRIMES.
SOME OF US JUST QUESTION THIS GIRL'S MOTIVES FOR SPEAKING NOW, AFTER HER DAD IS ALREADY IMPRISONED.
I DON'T STAND 10 TOES DOWN FOR NOBODY UNLESS THEY'RE A CLOSE BLOOD RELATIVE & NOT GUILTY OF THE ACCUSATIONS.
I CONTEND THAT THIS GIRL NEEDS COUNSELING FROM A THERAPIST & SPIRITUAL LEADER (PREFERABLY FEMALE) WHETHER IT HAPPENED OR NOT.
THIS DOES NOT BELONG ON TV/VIA THE MEDIA; IT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE SHE'S DOING IT FOR A PAYOUT- NOT JUST BECAUSE. I WANT HER TO BE TREATED WELL ON ALL LEVELS. THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR ON TV. WE AREN'T THERAPISTS.
SADLY, MANY OF US FEEL THAT HER REVELATION IS CLEARLY & STRICTLY FOR UNDUE ATTENTION FROM THE MEDIA .
^^^Why does it matter what you think? It's her pain and her truth. You just making up opinions with no facts.
2:51 PM
UM, I'M NOT MAKING UP OPINIONS ON ANYTHING. I'VE BEEN SUGGESTING THERAPY FOR THIS GIRL EVERYTIME I POST. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS: IF IT'S HER PAIN AND HER TRUTH THEN WHY IS SHE ON SOCIALMEDIA INSTEAD OF IN A THERAPIST'S OFFICE WITH THIS?!? I REITERATE THAT NOBODY ON THIS SITE CAN HELP HER UNLESS THEY'RE LICENSED THERAPISTS/DOCTORS, INCLUDING YOU.
YOU SOUND UNEDUCATED WITH YOUR POST AS IT PERTAINS TO WHAT I POSTED. I'LL JUST EXCUSE YOU FOR MISTAKING WHAT I POSTED FOR WHAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD POSTED AS AN OPINION, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING WRONG OR ILLEGAL FOR SUGGESTING SOMEONE SEEK COUNSELING FROM A SKILLED PROFESSIONAL.
I believe her mom Andrea made her keep quiet after all these years, and now she is no longer fearful of the wrath of either parent.🎯 Notice she said her nor her brother and sister have had anything to do with Robert and stop going to see him years ago because of the abuse. Shame on Andrea for knowing about this and all the other rancid stuff R Kelly did and did not but shimmy and shake to the bank.
When I saw R Kelly 's trans daughter is knew then that girl had been through something horrible that would want her to change her entire sexuality. Something is truly demonic with weak women who choose a man and his debauchery over the heir kids. Instead of tootsie rolling to Beyonce on Instagram, Andrea need to be locked up too. 💯🤡👿
* sorry for the typos, spellcheck is crazy
Hi, 2:02 here…@2:38 what I said is exactly what’s happening here. Pedophilia is a sickness. So is defending it 🤷🏽♀️ lastly it’s not up to none of us how or when she shares her story. 1/2 of folks won’t believe her anyway, same as it is a lot of places in our community.
3:25 PM
I DONT' NEED ANYONE TO EXPLAIN ABOUT PEDOPHILIA BEING A SICKNESS-I WORK VERY CLOESLY WITH SURVIVORS AT A COUNSELING CENTER. I HEAR ATROCIOUS STORIES ABOUT WHAT STEPDADS/STEP BORTHERS/GRANDFATHERS/COUSINS/UNCLES/BROTHERS/BOYFRIENDS OF MOTHERS, AUNTS, FAMILY FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, ETC. HAVE DONE TO VICTIMS. IT'S VERY HARD & EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET THEM TO OPEN UP IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, LET ALONE PUBLICLY OR SPEAKING IN GROUP SESSIONS.
THIS IS WHY I'VE QUESTIONED THIS GIRL'S-I BELIEVE HER BORN NAME IS JOANNA KELLY- MOTIVES.
BECAUSE IT'S MY JOB TO HELP VICTIMS OF ABUSE & ASSAULT I FEEL A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SYMPATHY FOR VICTIMS, BUT NONE FOR THOSE WHO MAYBE LYING BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THEY/PEOPLE WHO LIE ABOUT SA & ABUSE ARE MOCKING REAL VICTIMS & PERPETRATING FRAUD AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE REAL VICTIMS.
I CONTEND THAT IF HER ACCUSATIONS ARE INDEED TRUE OR NOT, SHE NEEDS TO BE IN THERAPY IN ORDER TO BE ON THE ROAD TO WELLNESS.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION ON IT, BUT 5 DAYS A WEEK I ASSIST REAL VICTIMS OF S3X ABUSE & IT BENEFITS REAL VICTIMS TO SEEK COUNSELING & TREATMENT FOR SUCH EVENTS.
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