R. Kelly’s Daughter Speaks Out in Explosive Documentary: ‘You Know Exactly What You Did’
In a bold and emotional move, R. Kelly’s daughter, Buku Abi, is breaking her silence in the new documentary Karma: A Daughter’s Journey. At 26, Abi, born Joanne Kelly, confronts the harrowing allegations of abuse involving her father, once one of R&B’s biggest stars, and how his actions have shattered their family.
In the two-part series, Abi dismisses claims that she and her siblings were “brainwashed” by their mother, Andrea Kelly, against their father. “When it comes to him feeling like my mom has brainwashed us, I feel like it’s bull—-,” Abi says in Karma. She speaks directly to the emotional toll her father’s abuse has taken on her, stating, “You know exactly why we can’t have the relationship we would’ve liked to have with you.”
R. Kelly, now convicted and sentenced for multiple charges of sexual abuse, continues to appeal his case. Meanwhile, Karma sheds new light on the psychological scars left on his children, especially Abi, who calls her father a “monster” in the film, laying bare the reality of growing up in the shadow of such darkness. The documentary serves as a raw, heart-wrenching account of a family torn apart and their struggle to heal.