Kelly’s estranged daughter, Buku Abi, has recently come forward with deeply disturbing allegations, claiming that her father sexually abused her when she was a child. These shocking accusations were revealed in the two-part documentary titled R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, produced by TVEI. Abi, whose birth name is Joann Kelly, shared her traumatic experience for the first time on camera, bringing to light her long-hidden pain. In the second episode of the documentary, Abi provides a vivid account of the alleged abuse, explaining that it occurred when she was only 8 or 9 years old.
Abi said “I just remember waking up to him touching me,” She tearfully recounted during the documentary, as reported by a news channel “I didn’t know what to do, so I just kind of laid there, pretending to be asleep.
These allegations have added another chapter to the mounting claims of sexual misconduct and abuse that have surrounded R. Kelly for years, reinforcing the singer’s tarnished reputation.
In response to the new accusations, R. Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, strongly denied the claims in a public statement. Bonjean asserted that Kelly “vehemently denies” any wrongdoing, emphasizing that similar accusations had been made years earlier by Kelly’s ex-wife, Andrea Kelly. Those earlier allegations were investigated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) but were ultimately deemed “unfounded.” Bonjean also criticized the documentary’s producers for not contacting R. Kelly or his legal team to allow him to refute these claims on camera.
Despite the legal denial from R. Kelly’s camp, Abi’s account paints a painful and troubling picture of her childhood. In the documentary, Abi explains that for many years, she was too scared to come forward with her allegations and struggled to accept that the abuse had actually happened. The emotional turmoil she experienced kept her silent for a long time. Abi eventually told her mother, Andrea Kelly, about the incident in 2009, when she was 10 years old. Together, they filed a police complaint. However, according to Abi, no charges were brought against her father because too much time had passed between the alleged abuse and the moment it was reported.
In 2014, Andrea Kelly made similar allegations in a legal filing during a custody battle over her and R. Kelly’s three children. The documents, which resurfaced in 2020, referred to the alleged victim as Jane Doe. Andrea’s filing claimed that a DCFS caseworker believed the girl’s story but had no choice but to label the case “unfounded” due to the time lapse between the incident and the report. Steve Greenberg, R. Kelly’s attorney at the time, firmly denied the allegations, calling them “100% false.” He also stated that the allegations had been fully investigated by the authorities and dismissed.
In the present, Kelly’s current attorney, Bonjean, continues to defend her client, describing him as “the most investigated person on the planet when it comes to allegations of child sexual abuse.” Bonjean argued that if Abi’s allegations had any credibility, they would have been included in one of Kelly’s multiple indictments over the years. She emphasized that R. Kelly has faced numerous charges for sexual abuse, and none of the allegations from Abi have ever been part of the official legal cases against him.
Bonjean, Kelly’s current attorney, continued to defend her client, describing him as “the most investigated person on the planet when it comes to allegations of child sexual abuse.” She argued that if Abi’s allegations had any merit, they would have been included in one of Kelly’s numerous indictments. Nevertheless, the fact that these allegations are resurfacing now, through Abi’s own voice, gives weight to the ongoing conversation about R. Kelly’s history of abuse and manipulation.
Kelly’s legal troubles are well-documented. In 2023, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted on charges of child pornography and the enticement of minors for sex during a Chicago trial. This sentence came on top of the 30-year prison term he received in a New York case, where he was found guilty of sex crimes, including racketeering and sex trafficking. Kelly is currently serving both sentences concurrently, and he is not eligible for release until 2045.
Abi’s decision to speak out against her father is a courageous step in a long and difficult journey toward healing. In R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, she expresses her belief that prison is a fitting place for her father, based on her “personal experience” with him. Despite the intense emotional pain she has endured, Abi is determined to share her story and shed light on the trauma she has carried for years.
For Abi, this documentary is not just a platform to expose the truth about her father, but also a way to seek justice for herself and others who have suffered in silence. Her voice adds another layer to the complex narrative surrounding R.
