Netflix star Terrell Carter tells heartbreaking story of how he was born to an 11-year-old amputee with the ‘mental capacity of a third grader’ after his mother was raped by a relative

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve heard many incredible stories, but Terrell Carter’s really struck me. He recently shared that he was born to a mother who was only eleven years old herself, and who also had a physical disability – she was an amputee. What’s even more poignant is that she had the developmental level of a third grader. It’s a truly heartbreaking situation, and Terrell’s openness about it is incredibly brave.

The man’s mother, whose name hasn’t been released, was the victim of a sexual assault by a 26-year-old relative. Sadly, both of his parents have since died.

Terrell’s family didn’t realize his mother was pregnant until she was ready to give birth. They had assumed her weight gain was caused by a tumor and her medications.

Doctors also thought she couldn’t have children due to incomplete development of her reproductive organs.

Terrell, a 50-year-old singer and actor, is widely recognized for his roles as Varney in Tyler Perry’s Netflix series, Beauty In Black, and as attorney Warren Hall on Empire. He also appeared in the 2005 film, Diary Of A Mad Black Woman.

He previously authored a book titled Problem Child, and in a recent interview with the QL show podcast, he discussed the difficult experiences and trauma he faced.

Terrell said: ‘My mum was 11-years old. [She had a life expectancy of 15 years.] 

Born with one leg missing, she faced numerous health challenges throughout her childhood. Tragically, she was also sexually abused by my father, who was 26 years old at the time, and a relative of hers.

I was seen as the black sheep of the family, a secret my father tried to keep hidden. I had a childhood shrouded in secrecy because he didn’t want anyone to know about me.

My grandmother, like many people back then, prioritized security and a stable life and didn’t want to risk losing that.

My mother had a disability that made it difficult for her to speak. I became aware of our differences when I was just five years old, and I remember distinctly thinking she wasn’t like me.

We argued over crayons, and I suddenly felt much older than her. It struck me that her way of speaking was immature, and I realized I was already thinking on a more advanced level.

My mum faced incredible hardship when she was young and lost her ability to speak. Now, I feel I can speak for both of us.

When asked if he felt different as a child, Terrell responded, “Definitely. My family faced really difficult circumstances – they were struggling a lot.”

‘I remember thinking when I was eight years old, how am I nothing like these people?’

This is a story I’ve kept hidden for so long, something I never wanted to share with anyone. It’s incredibly difficult to admit, but my mother was abused, and I’m the product of incest. It’s a painful truth I’ve carried alone.

Growing up in Black families often means experiencing a lot of difficult things. When I shared my own story with a few friends, it encouraged them to open up and share theirs too. I hoped to lead by example and create a safe space for others to heal.

Terrell barely knew his father, a guitarist who had served in the army, seeing him only once or twice. Despite this, it was obvious they were related – they were strikingly similar in appearance.

He first learned about a hidden part of his family history at age eight. His aunt would hint at the identity of his father – saying things like ‘everyone knows who his son is’ – but the family kept it secret to avoid getting the man in question into trouble with the law.

Terrell has said: ‘I was born into this umbrella of an insane family.

Everyone was aware of the problems, and the situation was deeply unhealthy. It involved difficult people and truly challenging circumstances.

Because he looked so much like his father, Terrell spent years wondering if he would also share the same personality traits and struggles.

He acknowledges that growing up as an only son and not having a relationship with his father for many years was deeply painful. However, he’s worked through these experiences in therapy and become the person he is now.

He explained that his experiences left him unable to understand love or form meaningful connections with others.

Even when things seemed to go okay, I realized I was completely clueless about love – I honestly didn’t know what it was supposed to feel like.

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2025-10-15 13:50