What happened to R. Kelly’s daughter Buku?

The downfall of R. Kelly, once a prominent R&B artist, has been further complicated by recent revelations from his daughter, Buku Abi, also known as Joann Kelly. His legacy has been overshadowed by a troubling history of legal issues related to child pornography and numerous allegations of sexual abuse. The turning point came with the 2019 documentary series Surviving R. Kelly, which brought to light the experiences of many of his alleged victims and ultimately led to his conviction for racketeering and sex trafficking, resulting in a 20-year prison sentence.

In the new two-part documentary titled Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, Buku shares her painful experiences of alleged sexual abuse by her father during her childhood. Now 26, this marks her first public acknowledgment of the trauma she faced. In the documentary, she recounts instances of abuse beginning when she was just 8 or 9 years old, describing moments of waking up to find her father touching her. “I just kind of laid there, pretending to be asleep,” she recalls, highlighting the emotional confusion she experienced as a child.

The impact of this alleged abuse has been profound, deeply affecting her life and family dynamics. Abi explains that the experience dimmed her spirit and led to a fallout within the family, causing her and her siblings to stop visiting their father after she disclosed the abuse to her mother.

Choosing to speak out was not easy for Buku. For years, she struggled to reconcile her father’s loving image with the reality of his actions. “He was my everything,” she expresses, illustrating the internal conflict many survivors face when confronting their abusers. This struggle was further complicated by the challenges of reporting child sexual abuse; although she and her mother filed a police report in 2009, the case did not move forward due to the time elapsed since the alleged incidents.

In response to these serious allegations, R. Kelly’s attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, has categorically denied the claims, referring to past investigations into similar allegations made by Kelly’s ex-wife, which were reportedly considered unfounded. However, given Kelly’s extensive history of abuse and legal troubles, many find it difficult to dismiss Buku’s testimony.