Kirk Franklin says he’s still dealing with the effects of his oldest son’s decision to leak a private phone conversation between the two.
In March 2021, Kerrion Rashad Franklin shared a recording on Instagram of the conversation between himself and his father.
In the shocking clip, the gospel award-winning artist can be heard yelling, cursing, and threatening his 35-year-old son. He also said things such as “I will put my foot in your a–” and “I will break f––g your neck.”
Kirk later apologized for the remarks that still haunt him today, calling it the “worst two years of my life.”
“It traumatizes me to this day,” he told Page Six. “It is very difficult, and my wife will tell you.”
The husband of Tammy Franklin said, “That tape was a reflection of years of what our family dynamic has been going through, just so you know,” he said, “You don’t have that type of anger out there without there being a history of something.”
Kerrion is Kirk’s first child, from his past relationship with Shawn Ewing, who previously spoke up in defense of Kirk. In a now-deleted Instagram video, she expressed that her son may still be “hurting” from being raised by “teenage parents.” She also disputed Kerrion’s claim that he was “abandoned.”
The “Stomp” singer has attempted to keep his family matters private and described his firstborn as a “very talented, beautiful soul in the way that he was wired.” Using hand gestures, Kirk implied that Kerrion had been dealing with mental health issues during an interview in June 2022.
“It’s not necessarily his fault. Some of us are born with very unique wires, and a lot of times in our community it is hard for us to acknowledge certain wires. We want to think it’s something else,” he shared on “The Breakfast Club.” “We see people outside of our community … they’re very quick to lean toward science and medicine and information, right? Not our community.”
Kirk stated that the recording was taken from two separate conversations. Yet some fans felt Kerrion’s motive was to taint his father’s reputation in the industry.
“We are privately trying to address some of those things and I have to realize … that he may never understand the gravity of what he did,” said Kirk. “And for me, I may have to live with that and put his well-being before what he did.”
Regarding the recording, he admitted, “I hadn’t talked to my son in five years when he called me. But I do want people to know I love him. I want the world to hear it loud. I love my son.”
In the months following the leaked audio, Kerrion began revealing more about his relationship with his estranged father. On April 10, the reality star was arrested and held without bond. He had been pulled over by Beverly Hills Police for a routine traffic stop regarding his taillight. Police did a subsequent search of the vehicle he was driving after noticing it was owned by a missing woman who was presumed at the time to be dead. A gun also was found in the car.
After returning home during the same month as Kirk’s appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” Kerrion thanked his mother, father, and fellow gospel vet John P. Kee in an Instagram post for their continued prayers during his two-month incarceration.
It’s unclear what the status of Kirk’s relationship with Kerrion is today, but fans noticed he was not included in a family photo Kirk shared in December 2022.
Meanwhile, Kerrion is currently filming his second season of Zeus Network’s “Bad Boys” show in Los Angeles.
It’s frustrating when you raise your children to see them heading for a destructed path in life. Sometimes you just have to tell them the way it is and that’s that! Better than not doing anything and end up preaching at his funeral. No one but his father is going to give him that tough love that he needed. Sending it so everyone can see and hear tells me why his dad had to talk tough to him. Looks like the young man is thinking he is something that he is not.
They need God lots of time together with much prayer
and family counseling. It is none of our business and
we should not be entertaining this recycled personal
family matter.
I believe Kirk is a dad showing tough love to a grown man. As a dad he is dealing with issues that we do not have all the details. Kirk I applaud you. Sometimes tough love is best for sime of these entitled kids. Nothing is promised to us in life.
That old cliche comes to mind…”MISERY LOVES COMPANY”.
When it comes to grown kids, sometimes the best love we can give them is to let them go and love them from a distance.
You make all kind of sacrifices for them and they around and turn on you like a Pit Bull when you’re not looking. The bigger the sacrifice and the more advantages they have, the bigger the bite… It’s Really Sad. They care little about your feelings or what the consequences their action bring on you… they can be selfish and self-centered; it’s all about them. They fail to realize they are hurting themselves more than they are hurting you. It’s the generations. PUT THEM IN GODS HANDS AND KEEP IT MOVING. There was only one perfect one that walked the face of this earth… and that was Jesus Christ.
GOD BLESS
I feel that he should have not put him and his father conversation online like that frist of all what transpired for zMr. Franklin to come out of character like that because these kids and grown children are very Direspecful and that cam make you put there behind in line not saying he could have handled it in a different manner because of his statue but not even the ones we consider saints a Saint no ones perfect he’s still human and a parent I pray that one day soon the squash there differences and love he other
The children if today like to pint out parents faults yet never admit their faults. We all make mistakes which should allow a lesson to be learned from our actions. Therefore, the fact that his son shared the conversation is his way of pointing fingers as his dad that he has issues. We all may say or act different when negativity presents itself in approach to put shame on dad’s character. Well sometimes children become self centered and truly don’t have regards for consequences of their actions
My prayers are with Kirk an the Franklin family I met Kirk years ago at the old DFW mass choir rehearsal place wich is now a Potters House we n oth had sons I went to prison for a crime I didn’t do in 94 sn did almost 19 years flat.I said that to say this I know what you are dealing with my 28 year old is like your son always trying to make it seem every one is at fault never him he feels entitled we have had several fights cause of his verbal disregard an disrespect he goes to jail its someone else fault my brother u have to standon what u know is right love your son but Stand on Truth an right teachings if you wouldn’t do it don’t accept him doing it!!!! U know me may even recognize my name we used to see each other alot I know Tam an David ,Donnie, Yolanda and many more from down through the years…..personally… That being said pray an stay strong God will fix it in his time…….
I love you kirk and I know the kids will make you go there. Stay strong; we’re here for you.
Many of God’s people, black people, have gotten so far away from God, and need to repent and turn back to Him. Most black people come from God loving, faithful, God fearing families, whose parents and grandparents once revered God, and respected Him, and taught their children and grandchildren to do the same. That’s not how it is anymore. Money, fame, fortune, and
power have corrupted so many of God’s people, and satan entered into many lives. We have got to get back to Jesus and the word of God! Our souls are at stake, and no amount of money, fame, and power is worth a life of eternity in hell! All we have to do is look around us, at the state of the world, and the people in it, and see that we need Jesus, and we need Him now!