R. Kelly's daughter claims the singer sexually abused her as a child

R. Kelly's eldest daughter, Buku Abi, claims in a new documentary that her disgraced father, a convicted sex offender, abused her when she was about 8 or 9 years old.

“I just remember waking up to him touching me,” the 26-year-old formerly known as Joann Kelly recalled tearfully in “Karma: A Daughter's Journey,” according to People.

The musician, who R. Kelly shares with his ex-wife Drea Kelly, added in an episode of the two-part series: “I didn't know what to do, so I just laid there and pretended it was me.” asleep.”

Abi said she was in disbelief at times about what the “Ignition” singer allegedly did to her and she “didn't even want to believe it happened” because he was “everything” to her.

“I didn’t know he would hurt me even if he was a bad person,” she explained. “I was too afraid to tell anyone. I was too afraid to tell my mother.”

A lawyer for R. Kelly – who was convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering in 2022 and child pornography in a separate case in 2023 – “vehemently” denies Abi's allegations.

“His ex-wife made the same claim years ago, and it was investigated by the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services and found to be unfounded,” Jennifer Bonjean claimed to People on Friday.

“And the 'filmmakers,' whoever they are, have not contacted Mr. Kelly or his team to even allow him to deny these hurtful allegations.”

R. Kelly is serving a 30-year prison sentence for one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits the transportation of “any woman or girl” across state lines for “immoral purposes.”

He was also sentenced to 20 years in prison – 19 of which would run concurrently with his initial sentence – for three counts of producing child porn in connection with videos of him abusing his 14-year-old goddaughter and three counts of luring minors into sex.

The “I Believe I Can Fly” singer will be eligible for release in 2045, when he will be nearly 80 years old.

Meanwhile, in the documentary series now streaming on TVEI Streaming Network, Abi insisted she was honest about her claims against her father.

However, she said it wasn't until she was 10 that she had the courage to tell her mother what had happened. Sometime after this confession, the two filed a police report under the name “Jane Doe.”

However, R. Kelly could not be prosecuted because she allegedly “waited too long.”

“At that point in my life, I felt like I had said something for nothing,” Abi said.

The musician claimed in the document that her father's alleged abuse caused her to struggle with mental health issues for years.

“I really feel like that one millisecond completely changed my entire life and who I was as a person and how the shine that I had and the light that I used to carry inside of me was changed,” Abi said.

“After I told my mother, I stopped going there; my brother (Robert) and my sister (Jaah), we didn't go there anymore. And even now I have a lot of trouble with it.”

Abi said she was even suicidal at one point because she simply “didn’t care” whether she “lived or died.”

The “Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta” alum described how her mother once discovered her wrists were “completely slashed” while they were in a Target bathroom together.

“She immediately dropped everything and asked, 'What's wrong?' Are you OK?'” Abi said of Drea, 50.

“She was really worried, and at that moment I broke down and had to tell her, 'I don't think I'm OK.' I don't think I can do it. I don't think I'll survive the rest of my life.'”

However, R. Kelly's convictions have led to a certain determination among all involved.

Abi's brother Robert Jr., whose mother is also Drea, added on the show: “If you don't want to go to prison, don't do this – it'll get you locked up.”

Her youngest sibling, Jaah, added: “Make your bed, you lie in it.”

Drea expressed her support for her children on her Instagram Story on Friday. She reposted a video saying her children were “beautiful,” “strong” and “the best thing” in her life.

The professional dancer, who was married to R. Kelly from 1996 to 2009, wrote in the post: “I LOVE MY BALLS!”

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226 and call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 text them.