R. Kelly’s daughter, Joann Kelly, breaks silence on alleged childhood abuse
Joann Kelly, daughter of incarcerated R&B singer R. Kelly, has spoken out for the first time since revealing allegations of childhood sexual abuse by her father. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Joann addressed her younger self, reflecting on her journey and resilience.
The 26-year-old began her emotional message, “Hey Baby girl… It’s me, you. We’re 26 now. I know you didn’t even think you’d make it past 15 but you did.” Joann acknowledged her past struggles and doubts, expressing pride in overcoming them. She highlighted her accomplishments, including becoming a mother, reconnecting with relatives, pursuing music and art, and appearing on TV.
“You’re a mother, a fucking amazing one at that, your son is so handsome and so funny and everything you’ve been daydreaming about and more,” Joann wrote. “Your mom is truly healing, your brother and sister are alive and well… you went on to do music and art, and you were on TV.”
Joann’s post comes after her shocking revelation on October 11, 2024, that she was also abused by R. Kelly. She had previously hesitated to come forward due to fear. When she finally reported the abuse, authorities stated that prosecution was impossible due to the time elapsed.
In a remarkable display of healing and forgiveness, Joann declared that she has forgiven R. Kelly for the abuse. This courageous step follows R. Kelly’s sentencing to 20 years in prison for child sexual abuse and child pornography in February 2023.
