Buku Abi, daughter of disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly, has come forward with allegations of sexual abuse by her father during her childhood. The allegations are detailed in a new two-part documentary titled “R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey,” aired on the TVEI Broadcasting Network.
Buku Abi, real name Joann Kelly, has shared her harrowing experience, saying she was “too scared to tell anyone” about the abuse which she claims happened when she was eight to nine years old . “I remember waking up and seeing him touching me,” she recounts in the documentary, describing her reaction to the abuse. “I didn’t know what to do so I just lay there and pretended to sleep..”
The documentary marks the first time Abi has spoken out publicly about the abuse allegations, although she has previously spoken out in support of survivors of her father’s abuse. After the incident, she confided in her mother, Andrea Kelly, in 2009 when she was 10 years old, leading to a police report. However, due to reporting delays, legal action against Kelly could not proceed at that time.
R. Kelly’s daughter, Buku Abi, has spoken out for the first time about the alleged abuse she suffered as a child, claiming she was one of her father’s victims. pic.twitter.com/g7sZPgMGsY
– Access Hollywood (@accesshollywood) October 11, 2024
R. Kelly, who is serving multiple sentences for crimes related to child pornography, solicitation of minors for sex and racketeering, has vehemently denied these new charges through through his attorney, Jennifer Bonjean. Bonjean said: “Mr. Kelly vehemently denies these allegations,” emphasizing that if these statements had any merit, they would have been part of his earlier indictment.
This accusation adds another layer to the already complicated and disturbing legacy of R. Kelly, once known as the “King of R&B,” whose career faltered after multiple accusations and subsequent conviction for sexual misconduct. Abi’s revelations come after years of legal battles and public scrutiny surrounding R. Kelly’s conduct, which were particularly highlighted in the 2019 docu-series “Survives R. Kelly.”
The impact on Buku Abi was profound. “I truly feel as though that one millisecond completely changed my entire life and changed who I am, changed the sparkle that I had and the light that I once carried.”, she expressed, shedding light on the psychological trauma she endured.
This revelation has reignited discussions about the responsibility of celebrities and the lasting effects of childhood trauma. Since the legal system has already convicted R. Kelly for related crimes, this new charge may not result in further legal consequences due to the statute of limitations and previous legal outcomes. However, it contributed significantly to the public and cultural evaluation of R. Kelly’s actions.
