Kirk Franklin Denies Physically Abusing His Son In 1st Interview Since Audio Leak

Kirk Franklin, Kerrion Franklin

Kirk Franklin Denies Physically Abusing His Son In 1st Interview Since Audio Leak

Kirk Franklin is opening up about his relationship with his son, Kerrion Franklin, 33, in his first interview since audio of a heated argument between them was leaked.

Kerrion Franklin shared the audio on social media over the weekend.

Kirk Franklin cussing out his son got me dying pic.twitter.com/U8PF7WhRc6

— Montyrico Fellini ? (@RoyalsMLBChamps) March 13, 2021

He detailed his side of their relationship in the caption.

Kirk Franklin addressed the audio in a statement on Instagram Saturday (March 13th).

 

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A post shared by Kirk Franklin (@kirkfranklin)

Now, he’s opening up even more as he and his wife, Tammy Franklin, sit down with daytime talk show host Tamron Hall. 

Tammy & Kirk Franklin

He shared the history of the issues he and Kerrion Franklin have had and said,

“Early on, Tammy, Shawn [Ewing] and myself, we started to realize that there needed to be some deeper help with things that was happening with our son and so when he was a teenager, we started him in therapy and counseling and we’ve had him in and out of counseling and therapy for over 20 years, and as Kerrion became a grown man, when he became a grown man, his disrespect became more aggressive…So you know this is them that we’ve been trying to rally for years to try to help and like I said now that he’s about to be 33 as a grown man the relationship at times can become very agitated and very frustrated…but I’m not going to stop trying to help, you know, he’s my son. He’s my son, he’s my firstborn, and I never want him to feel what I felt not having a father. So even though it gets tense and tight when he calls from time to time I will answer his call, even though I expect it to sometimes kind of derail. It’s important for me because what if that call is the call that things change. So I never know. And I never want to give up.”

He addressed claims that he’s physically abused Kerrion Franklin and continued,

“I love my son and I have tried very privately to keep all of the areas that we’ve been working with him in counseling as a private matter. We’ve been having challenges with my oldest son for years. And again, as he’s gotten older, his disrespect has become more aggressive. But I’m confident that his mother, myself, Tammy, my family, there’s never been anything physical that concerns me, or even makes me uncomfortable because I know the truth, he knows the truth, and I love him and as a grown man I am still this dad and when it becomes aggressive, I still have to have a level of respect, I got to have – I’m still your daddy. And you – there’s still got to be respect and there can’t be levels of disrespect but I’m confident that there hasn’t been any physical abuse. I mean, we’ve had therapy and counseling sessions and documentation long enough to know that the deeper issue is, we’ve been just trying to help our son…”

He added,

“I respect Kerrion. I’m not Kerrion’s equal though. I’m not his equal, I’m his dad. And when you talk to me, especially about things that you say that you want from me, I can’t hear you when you are extremely aggressive when we’re communicating, and that’s why a lot of times, Kerrion and I haven’t talked sometimes for a year or two.”

Tammy Franklin expressed her thoughts as well and said,

“Well, you know I wasn’t a part of the conversation as my husband has expressed although there have been some people who assume that I was. I can tell you that it has been a very hard and difficult situation with our family for years to the point where my husband has to have someone on the phone to help because it has become that combustible, I would say. Even the counselor got on the phone that day, there were apologies exchanged, there was a desire to continue or, start back, I would say, counseling. And so, when there are challenges, and when they start off young as early as, you know, junior high, and then now it’s continuing as an adult, you are now communicating and dealing not only with your child but with your adult child, a grown man. And so the aggressiveness and the nature is different.”

Kirk Franklin also spoke on fans who were disappointed about the profanity he used in the audio.

“People have every right to be disappointed to hear me use that language, I’m disappointed in myself for using that language. And at the same time, I’m human. I’m a father, and I’m a father that has a son, and I have a history, I have a history of a toxic, challenging, turbulent relationship with a grown man now that I’m still trying to fight for. And in that fight it can become so difficult that my humanity, unfortunately that day, won. And I’m going to keep trying, while still continuing to admit that I am an imperfect man fighting to serve a perfect God.”

What are your thoughts on Kirk Franklin’s remarks? Comment and let us know.