Current:Home > MarketsR. Kelly's Daughter Joann Kelly to Share a "Heartbreaking Secret" in Upcoming Documentary -Finovate
R. Kelly's Daughter Joann Kelly to Share a "Heartbreaking Secret" in Upcoming Documentary
View
Date:2025-04-13 09:48:49
R. Kelly's estranged daughter has been carrying a heartbreaking childhood secret.
In a new documentary, Joann Kelly, who also goes by the name Buku Abi, shares details about her experience growing up with the R&B singer, who is serving a more than 30-year prison sentence for sex crimes against underage girls.
"He was my everything for a long time," Joann, who was not named as one of the victims during Kelly's 2021 trial, says in the TVEI Network's R. Kelly's Karma: A Daughter's Journey, as seen in a trailer released Sept. 29. "I didn't even want to believe it happened."
The 26-year-old continued, "I didn't know that even if he was a bad person, that he would do something to me. I really feel like that one millisecond completely just changed my whole life."
According to TVEI, in the documentary, Kelly's daughter "bravely reveals a heartbreaking secret that shattered her childhood."
Joann, who appeared to be pregnant while filming the documentary, vowed to be open about her experiences with her son and keep him away from the "I Believe I Can Fly" singer.
"If my son asks questions I'm going to be as truthful as possible," she said, "but I would not be taking my son to a prison to meet his grandfather."
Kelly will be 78 when he eligible for release from prison in 2045. In April, a federal appeals court upheld his convictions on child pornography and enticement charges, more than 18 months after the conclusion of his trial in Chicago, WTTW reported.
Joann's mother, Kelly’s ex-wife Drea Kelly, also appears in the documentary. "Just because you’re not a good husband, doesn't mean you can’t be a good father. And the fact that he didn’t even try," the 50-year-old said in the trailer. "What he did to me, he did to me. But you didn’t have to do it to my damn kids."
In 2019, Joann spoke out about her father after the release of the docuseries Surviving R. Kelly, which chronicled allegations of abuse and pedophilia that others made about the singer.
The project preceded an investigation against Kelly that helped lead to his 2022 conviction of racketeering and sex trafficking, and a year later, convictions for felony sexual exploitation of a child, enticement of a female, and possession of material containing child pornography.
"The same monster you all confronting me about is my father," Joann wrote on her Instagram Story at the time. "I am well aware of who and what he is. I grew up in that house. My choice to not speak on him and what he does is for my peace of mind. My emotional state. And for MY healing. I have to do & move in a manner that is best for me."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (8)
Related
- Average rate on 30
- Climate Activists Reluctantly Back John Fetterman in Tightening Pennsylvania Senate Race
- Tiny Soot Particles from Fossil Fuel Combustion Kill Thousands Annually. Activists Now Want Biden to Impose Tougher Standards
- Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Love Triangle Comes to a Dramatic End in Tear-Filled Reunion Preview
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Thousands of authors urge AI companies to stop using work without permission
- Environmentalists Fear a Massive New Plastics Plant Near Pittsburgh Will Worsen Pollution and Stimulate Fracking
- The EV Battery Boom Is Here, With Manufacturers Investing Billions in Midwest Factories
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Twitter vs. Threads, and why influencers could be the ultimate winners
Ranking
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Soaring West Virginia Electricity Prices Trigger Standoff Over the State’s Devotion to Coal Power
- Twitter threatens to sue its new rival, Threads, claiming Meta stole trade secrets
- Melanie Griffith Covers Up Antonio Banderas Tattoo With Tribute to Dakota Johnson and Family
- SFO's new sensory room helps neurodivergent travelers fight flying jitters
- Women are returning to the job market in droves, just when the U.S. needs them most
- Over $200 billion in pandemic business loans appear to be fraudulent, a watchdog says
- The Bachelorette's Tayshia Adams Deserves the Final Rose for Deal Hunting With Her Prime Day Picks
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Amazon Prime Day 2023 Home & Kitchen Deals: Save Big on Dyson, Keurig, Nespresso & More Must-Have Brands
Geraldo Rivera, Fox and Me
This electric flying taxi has been approved for takeoff — sort of
Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
RFK Jr. is building a presidential campaign around conspiracy theories
OceanGate suspends its commercial and exploration operations after Titan implosion
Save Up to $250 on Dyson Hair Tools, Vacuums, and Air Purifiers During Amazon Prime Day 2023