Buku Abi, the daughter of R&B singer R. Kelly, is publicly sharing her story for the first time regarding the alleged abuse she suffered during her childhood. In the newly released two-part documentary Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, which premiered today on the TVEI Streaming Network, the 26-year-old discusses her traumatic experiences and their lasting impact.
In the final minutes of the documentary, Abi reveals that she first reported the alleged abuse to her mother, Andrea Kelly, in 2009, when she was just 10 years old. “He was my everything. For a long time, I didn’t even want to believe that it happened,” she reflects in the film. “I didn’t know that even if he was a bad person, he would do something to me.” Her fear of speaking out was palpable, as she notes, “I was too scared to tell anybody. I was too scared to tell my mom.”
Although Abi, who was born Joann Kelly, does not provide extensive details about the alleged abuse in the first episode, she emphasizes that she believes jail is a “well-suited place” for her father, now 57, based on her own experiences. “I really feel like that one millisecond completely just changed my whole life, changed who I was as a person, and changed the sparkle I had and the light I used to carry,” she says. Following her revelation to her mother, Abi and her siblings ceased visits to their father. “Even up until now, I struggle with it a lot,” she admits.
The documentary highlights the concept of delayed disclosure, explaining that many survivors of childhood sexual abuse may take years or even decades to disclose their experiences. This crucial insight serves to illuminate the complexities faced by victims in coming forward.
In the second episode, Abi delves deeper into her traumatic experiences, stating that the alleged abuse began when she was around 8 or 9 years old. “I just remember waking up to him touching me,” she recalls, tears streaming down her face. “And I didn’t know what to do, so I just kind of laid there, and I pretended to be asleep.” This painful memory underscores the confusion and helplessness that many survivors face during such traumatic moments.
Abi eventually confided in her mother, leading them to the police to file a complaint as “Jane Doe.” However, she expresses deep disappointment when recounting their experience with the legal system. “They couldn’t prosecute him because I waited too long,” she reveals. “So at that point in my life, I felt like I said something for nothing.” This sentiment reflects the profound frustration that many survivors feel when their voices go unheard.
In response to the documentary and the allegations, R. Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, issued a statement to PEOPLE, asserting, “Mr. Kelly vehemently denies these allegations.” Bonjean noted that similar claims made by Andrea Kelly were investigated years ago by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and deemed unfounded. She also criticized the filmmakers, claiming they did not reach out to R. Kelly or his team, depriving them of the chance to respond to the allegations.
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