The online dispute between rapper Chingy and actor Isaiah Russell-Bailey is still brewing after the public discovered their relationship.
Last week, the St. Louis native revealed during a live interview that the “Family Reunion” actor is his son.
The news sparked an overwhelming response of shock, forcing Isaiah to clarify details about who raised him and his mother, Brittany Perry-Russell.
(L-R) Chingy, Brittany Perry-Russell, Isaiah Russell-Bailey. (Photos: Ben Rose/Getty Images for MP3Waxx.com, @russellhustleinc/Instgram)
After Chingy, whose real name is Howard Bailey, revealed their tie, Russell-Bailey basically implied that he and his father were estranged.
Chingy caught wind of allegations and responded by accusing the boy’s mom of manipulating his relationship with their son for money.
On Thursday, Sept. 10, Isaiah hit back with a lengthy statement, doubling down on his claim that Chingy isn’t a present parent.
The 19-year-old started the letter by expressing why he chose to speak out about his “biological father.”
“I’ve stayed quiet about my relationship with my father because I’ve never felt the need to share that aspect of my life publicly,” Isaiah wrote. “But after seeing his comments, I feel compelled to speak for myself.”
The young entertainer further slammed his father by writing, “You cannot rewrite years of absence, neglect, or lack of involvement with a few paragraphs about love, support, and being there for your child.”
He was referring to Chingy’s previous statement after the internet uproar. After his revelation on “The Jason Lee Show,” Isaiah shared a touching tribute to his mom for “everything I am.
To calm the chatter, the “Right Thurr” artist later told Lee, “Isaiah knows the relationship he and I have. He knows the love I have for him.”
He added that he wanted his son to build his own career and not live in his shadow.
Chingy concluded his statement by saying, “I’m proud of my son, I love my son, and I don’t need social media to validate that. The people who actually matter know what it is. I wish him nothing but success.”
In response to Chingy’s insinuations about Isaiah’s mother turning their son against the rapper, Isaiah said those “are completely false.”
“She did not manipulate me into disliking my father,” he clarified. “A parent doesn’t have to turn a child against someone who was already absent. My feelings are my own, and they come from my own experiences.”
Additionally, Isaiah noted that he worked “diligently and tirelessly” to excel in his career. He also credited the “sacrifices” he and his mother made for his career.
Isaiah ended the statement by saying he refuses to let others speak for him or dictate his feelings. He knows the truth, as do the people who know him.
“I’ve said what I needed to say, and I won’t be speaking on this again,” he said.
His mom, Brittany, responded to the post in the comments, writing “proud.”
Chingy caught wind of Isaiah’s new statement, claiming the back-and-forth compelled him to speak from the heart.
In his own statement on Sept. 11, he reiterated that he loved his son and was also proud of him.
“He has every right to talk about how he experienced his childhood. If he feels hurt, disappointed or believes I wasn’t there enough, I’m not going to tell him those feelings aren’t real,” Chingy said.
He maintains that he did try his best to be in Isaiah’s life. He suggested that his son and the public don’t know the “private conversations and complicated” family struggles behind the scenes.
“I will not discuss those details publicly or use them to blame his mother,” he states.
He then shared the financial aspect of the situation by saying, “I understand that financial support does not replace a father’s presence. However, I contributed more than $200,000 in child support and made sincere efforts to maintain a relationship with him.”
The “Pullin’ Me Back” rapper said the idea that he did not care or want to be involved in Isaiah’s life is not true.
However, Chingy acknowledged that both of their feelings can be true at the same time.
Before ending his statement, he offered an olive branch and hoped for a private sit-down with his son.
“His pain does not erase the love I have always had for him. I’m willing to listen, take responsibility for my part and have an honest conversation with him,” he said.
Fans shared their take on the father-son quarrel, with mixed opinions and hopes for reconciliation.
Some supported Isaiah’s feelings, like one person who wrote, “That young man said you wasn’t there PERIOD.”
A second commentator said, “Chingy was clearly an absent father idk what’s so hard to comprehend.”
One person siding with the rapper told Isaiah, “All he did was claim you champ let’s all simmer down a lil.”
And someone else wrote, “Mature response accountability always helps.”
When Chingy originally spoke with Lee he said, “My youngest son, Isaiah, is a big actor out here in California. Yeah, movies on Disney and all type of stuff.”
This came after he revealed that he has four children in total, including two sons and two daughters.
He has a son named Mykael, 29, whom he had as a teenager. Mykael has one child, making Chingy a grandfather.
Chingy’s eldest daughter Keilana Timms is 14. The identities of Mykael and Timms’ mothers have remained private.
His youngest daughter, Galaxii Bailey, is 7, and he welcomed her with interior designer Asha Pérez.
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