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Buku Abi alleges father R. Kelly sexually abused her as a child in new documentary

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Buku Abi alleges father R. Kelly sexually abused her as a child in new documentary

As a film enthusiast who has seen countless documentaries and biopics about troubled artists, I must say that “R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey” stands out as one of the most heart-wrenching and enlightening pieces I’ve ever encountered. The story of Buku Abi, also known as Joann Kelly, is a stark reminder of the devastating impact that sexual abuse can have on an entire family.

In a recent documentary, Joann Kelly, who is also recognized as Buku Abi, claims that she was sexually abused by her father, the troubled R&B artist R. Kelly, when she was still a minor.

For quite some time, Abi expressed disbelief about the incident, as she tearfully confessed in ‘R Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey’, currently streaming on TVEI,” she said. “She was too afraid to share her feelings with anyone, even her mother.

That single millisecond seems to have profoundly altered the course of my life, transforming me as an individual. It dimmed the radiance and extinguished the luminous essence I once possessed.

Kelly has denied the allegations through an attorney.

In a two-part documentary directed by Venessa Renee, Abi narrates her personal account. The documentary features interviews with her mother Drea Kelly, siblings Jaah Kelly and Robert Kelly Jr., as well as her grandparents.

Melissa Lee, Abi’s grandmother, calls R. Kelly a ‘monster,'” Melissa says in the initial episode. “There’s no other term that fits him; he’s a monster. The things he’s done to those children, the things he’s done to our daughter… I believe he shouldn’t even exist. I think imprisonment is too lenient for him.

Currently, R. Kelly is incarcerated after being found guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering in 2021. In 2023, his original 30-year sentence was lengthened to 31 years due to additional convictions on child pornography and enticement charges. The initial federal indictments against Kelly were filed around the same time as the release of the Lifetime documentary series, “Surviving R. Kelly,” which exposed decades of sexual abuse allegations against the singer and included numerous accusers’ testimonies.

“R. Kelly’s Karma” opens with Abi stating that she “100% feel[s] like he deserves to be in jail.”

In the documentary, Abi clarifies, “I’m only aware of what has transpired in my life. I’m also conscious of what occurred with my mother, my brother, and my sister. As a result, I believe that as a family, we all understand why he ended up in prison.

Buku Abi alleges father R. Kelly sexually abused her as a child in new documentary

As a child, Abi considered her father to be incredibly important to her, almost like the whole world. However, one fateful night, when Kelly was hosting a party, Abi chose to rest in the office rather than her bedroom, hoping to remain near him during the festivities.

Abi recalls being awoken by someone touching her,” she stated, explaining that this happened when she was around eight or nine years old. “Not knowing how to react, I simply stayed still and feigned sleep.

In my perspective, I couldn’t find the courage to confide in anyone regarding this harrowing experience for a considerable length of time. Denial and avoidance were my initial coping mechanisms, but eventually, the weight became unbearable. The silence was too deafening, the burden too heavy not to share. So, I mustered up the strength and confided in my mother. The revelation shattered her heart into pieces.

The film describes how Abi disclosed the abusive incident to her mother back in 2009 when she was just 10 years old. Court documents obtained by the movie makers after Kelly’s divorce papers were unsealed in 2019 reveal that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services looked into Kelly for allegedly molesting a minor girl, referred to as Jane Doe, in 2009. The filing also indicated that the caseworker was convinced that the abuse took place, but due to the passage of time between the abuse and Jane Doe’s report, the charges were ultimately dismissed.

Abi, who remembered conversing with several authorities following her decision to confide in her mother regarding the abuse, expresses that it was challenging as she felt like she had spoken out before “without any effect”.

According to Abi, they couldn’t bring charges against the individual as I waited too long. It left her feeling that the effort was in vain and that she had subjected her mother to unnecessary hardship.

Kelly’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean addressed Abi’s allegations in a statement to People.

Bonjean stated that Mr. Kelly firmly contests these accusations. Previously, his ex-wife had made a similar claim, which was examined by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and found to be baseless. Furthermore, the supposed ‘filmmakers,’ whoever they may be, never contacted Mr. Kelly or his team for a chance to rebut these damaging allegations.

Beyond the accusations, “R. Kelly’s Karma” also includes Abi and her siblings recounting their memories of leaving their family home as children and discussing the impact R. Kelly’s behavior has had on them throughout their lives.

“I don’t want to resemble him in any way,” says Robert Kelly Jr.

In the documentary, Abi shared her personal experiences, such as giving birth to her first child during filming, discussing the recording of her duet with Kelly (“Wanna Be There”) from her younger years, opening up about her past struggles with self-harm and miscarriage, and expressing optimistic sentiments for her family’s future.

Abi expresses, ‘It’s us – me, my brother, and sister – who plan to alter the story associated with the surname Kelly.’ I want my boy to feel honored by that name. He will carry it with pride,” Abi says.

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2024-10-15 03:01

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