R. Kelly’s daughter, Buku Abi, is once again addressing public assumptions about her relationship with her father, stressing that her emotions are layered and often misunderstood.
Speaking during a recent sit-down with Reginae Carter, Buku pushed back against the notion that she harbors hatred or animosity toward the embattled singer. She explained that while she believes in accountability, it does not negate her love for him.
“I love my father, ok. It’s a big misconception that there is hate or like animosity towards him. It’s none of that,” she said. “At the end of the day, I went through what I went through, my family went through what they went through, and I’m gonna hold people accountable. However, that does not reflect how I feel about that man. I love my dad.”
Buku also spoke candidly about her personal struggles while dealing with intense public scrutiny and the weight of her family’s name. She revealed that she turned to marijuana and alcohol as coping mechanisms during difficult periods.
“I think it’s no secret at all that I’ve definitely struggled with like mental health, substance abuse,” she said. “Now, to be clear, we’re not talking hard drugs. I’m talking weed and alcohol.”
The conversation comes amid serious allegations Buku has previously made against her father. She has accused R. Kelly of sexually abusing her as a child, claims she detailed in the documentary R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey. Kelly has denied the allegations through his legal team.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, Buku’s recent comments highlight the emotional complexity of her experience, underscoring that accountability and love, in her view, can coexist.
