Gospel icon Kirk Franklin has been the topic of headlines, ridicule, and criticism over the last few days following the leak of explosive phone audio that saw him launch into a profanity-laden tirade against his oldest child, Kerrion.
During the call, which was recorded and lifted to Instagram by Kerrion, his ‘Stomp’-performing dad threated to break his neck and worse after the 33-year-old apparently made upsetting comments (which were not heard on the film footage).
Nevertheless, while Kirk received overwhelming support from most of his industry friends and fans, some critics believe his actions were totally inappropriate – a response that led the GRAMMY winner to issue a formal apology Sunday (March 14).
Now, via an interview with ‘The Tamron Hall Show,’ he’s speaking out publicly for the first time on the matter. See highlights from the sit-down discussion below:
Kirk said that despite his son’s years of experience with therapy, he’s gotten “more aggressive” over the years.
“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,” Kirk said. “He’s my son, he’s my firstborn, and I never want him to feel what I felt not having a father…It’s important for me because what if that call is the call that things change.”
Kirk continued by stating he feels Kerrion does not respect him, but the feeling of disrespect is not mutual.
“I respect Kerrion. I’m not Kerrion’s equal though. I’m not his equal, I’m his dad,” he said firmly. “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.”
The GRAMMY winner was sure to let fans know he is open to reconciliation with his son and will always ‘answer his call’ – even though they’ve gone years without speaking at times.
“In that fight, it can become so difficult that my humanity, unfortunately, that day, won,” he said. “And I’m going to keep trying, while still continuing to admit that I am an imperfect man fighting to serve a perfect God.”
*****
Ahead of Kirk’s ‘Tamron Hall’ visit, Kerrion took to Instagram to warn his followers that his father would be spewing misinformation. Watch the short clip below:
View this post on Instagram
The video was captioned with the following:
“What time am I supposed to watch more manipulation tomar ? Toxic is when they can’t leave you alone but still won’t treat you right x I am against #ParentalAbuse #Period I said I was Done and I’m standing on it. He does not respect me and I don’t feel safe around him. Still not one phone call. I am not going to call. This is supposed to be a private matter yet my parents are running to the public to play victim. You are about t see & Learn the depth of manipulation. #MedusaTheMixtape On Deck as soon as this storm passes 🤞🏾 #LifeAfterAbuse #AgainstAbuse #realeyesrecognisereallies #Freedom #ItsFreedomTime #NOW”
*****
Kirk and Kerrion aren’t the only Franklins weighing in on the situation. The star’s interview surfaces just days after his daughter, Kennedy, took to Instagram to slam her brother for attempting to expose the Gospel great.
He is a dangerous abusive father.
We got u on candid camera
That’s overdramatic. His son is a spoiled, troubled 33 year old. All I heard was a frustrated man airing his frustrations out on another grown ass man. Dangerous and abusive where???
Ur black, so u have been conditioned to side of the abusive parent.
Kirk Franklin is dangerous, violent father. u could hear it in his tone of voice. A violent beast.
It’s always the religious church going ones that are monsters behind closed door
His son is 33, ok and so what?
Let’s be very clear. Color has nothing to do with it. Seeing as though you’re a Black gay boy. Probably a teenager. Parading himself around the internet pretending to be something other than Black but that’s neither here nor there.
His son is only leaked a portion of the convo. He was clearly provoking and patronizing Kirk at that point. His son is a GROWN ASS 33 year old man with issues that span years. I can only imagine what he said/did to get Kirk to that point.
Kirks outburst wasn’t right but he’s human. His son needs to grow up and find some business of his own.
Teenager, me? Lol okay.
As I said, u are black, so u have been conditioned to side the abusive parent/ abuser
Reading your comment, u are victim blaming. U keep bringing up his son’s age like that’s suppose to mean something. he is 33 and so what? this is the problem with black folks. So because he is 33 he deserves to be treated that way?
You’re that type of black person that would shame their daughter if she comes to u and tells u she was ràpèd by a family member . You will call her a liar, a slùt and w****.
Do better. Change ur mentality.
Black people as a whole need to do better, especially towards their kids.
Kirk Franklin is evil. And that recording showed us who he really is when nobody is watching, an abusive monster who threatens the life of his own son.
now he is trying to do damage control. Nobody is buying that.
100% agree with Clarkson.
Also, if Kirk was such a great father, how did his son end up this way? Maybe his father has always been abusive and now he’s following suit. Like father, like son. It stems from the parents.
Don’t pull that “victim blaming” card on me and the r*** scenario has nothing to do with anything. Kill your white savior complex when millions of them are strung out or depressed because of their horrid/abusive childhoods. Like I said race is irrelevant.
Yes, teenager. If you aren’t a teenager you’re one hell of a loser who sits on a blog trolling all day.
ANYWAY
His son should leak ALL of it instead of a portion. Men of ALL races argue with and even fight their grown sons when they step to them disrespectfully.
“Yes, teenager. If you aren’t a teenager you’re one hell of a loser who sits on a blog trolling all day.”
😂😂. I must have hit a nerve. Lol
U came under my comment with ur WRONG opinions, and I schooled u real quick and now u BIG MAD. 😂
When they have no point to back up their arguement, they result to childish name calling/high school insults. Thats to show u ur level of maturity.
That’s weak, ur weak. U need to Grow up. Ur not in highscool anymore.
I will not stupe to your level of childish name calling, i will never bring myself down to your level of immaturity, that’s not my style, especially when discussing important issues like child abuse in the black community.
I just hope if u have kids/ when u have kids, u dont threatened to kill them because they are misbehaving.
God bless u.
“Stupe to your level…”?? The word is “stoop” clown. If ur going to try to educate someone, try using real words. You’re as bad as Shayla.
Nobody is as bad as Shayla. Yasssssss!! I just be twerking over here! Yasssssssssss
Auto correct but go of.
When they have nothing to counter your point, they start nitpicking. Oh u didnt spell this word right, u didnt put a comma here, u didnt put an apostrophe here,
Smh.
Clark, their responses of nitpicking and of name calling are those of someone without an intelligent response. It means you’ve made far too much sense.
So I just twerk on ‘em and pay no mind.
@Your Name, if it isn’t to do with race, then why do grown black men shoot each other dead at such an alarming rate? Nothing to do with being abused as children? Of course it happens in every race, but black culture is the only culture where it’s not frowned upon and is encouraged. Everyone wants to “save black people” yet they never want to start where the real problems are and get mad.
Auto correct won’t change “stoop” to “stupe” clown. You and that c*** Shayla are obsessed with everything BLACK people and it’s pathetic. This s*** has nothing to do with race or religion…this was heated internal family matter that spilled out into the public forum because of an overly-emotional attention-seeking man-child…not unlike you Clown.
Fake Marilyn is a perfect example of being beat as a child as he’s constantly mad.
Never mad, always thankful…particularly at this moment because idiots like you aren’t smart enough to get under my skin. 💋💋
I’m sorry…did I appropriate or misappropriation your argument. Or rather construe or misconstrue…
A lot of issues are to do with race and religion and your exact reaction of denial is why NOTHING EVER CHANGES.
Look at Islam, how parents kill their daughters for “bringing shame to the family” for wearing a t-shirt to school that exposes their lower arms. Whilst living in WESTERN CULTURE.
Don’t be blind or in denial.
A exasperated father yelling at his son with profanity has nothing to do with being black. But since your so obsessed with family violence vis a vis race/religion, explain why an overwhelming number of familicide cases (murdering the whole family) are perpetrated by non-Hispanic white men — 91 percent. You want my sources?
you very horable lady 😡
And how regular are those…… As regular as black on black shootings? Here you go again, deflecting…
@Shayla/Clarkson
Speak for yourself and your Black household/community. Go troll elsewhere.
@LaToya I know you’re not calling ME a “horable lady!”
Girl ur the one who brought up black men shooting other black men in a conversation about a man arguing with his child on the phone. How was that relevant? I’ll wait. Strangers shooting strangers is relevant to discussion about family violence. At least my s*** is relevant.
no . Is vary ugly evil maralyn says horable thing 😡
@LaToya…go and lay down sweetie.
@LaToya another one who sees sense.
Fake Marilyn, I’ll ask again, HOW REGULAR ARE THOSE TYPES OF MURDERS? Very rare, I’ll bet.
i am lie down my head hart from you evil 😡
Frequent enough to warrant an in-depth government study. Answer my question…how is a black stranger shooting another black stranger relevant to a father/son having a heated argument. I’ll wait.
No need in waiting… A high level of violence in the home from childhood is most probably a BIG factor.
Either you’re in denial or as dumb as those rocks you smoke on your pipe.
As per, Fake Marilyn has no response to common sense. Which can’t be all that common as clearly most don’t have it.
You’re a moron. A heated argument is NOT a high level of violence, neither does it show that violence was perpetrated in this man’s childhood. Girl, your racist a$$ is clearer than glass…using this narrow example of family discord amongst a black family to malign black men generally. This is your MO…and I won’t fall for it.
F*** off you racist unintelligent twat. You ain’t getting anymore of my energy today. 💋💋💋
I was referring to what Clarkson and Your Name were talking about.
You are wrong once again, as always. And I’m always right 💯🤳🏽
Clarkson always keeps it 100%
Bad (adjective): of poor quality or a low standard. Also, not such as to be hoped for or desired.
For clarity.
Yassssssssss b***** yasssssss!! Shake some thang!
I’mma need the good brotha Kirk to cuss out Shayla too lol 😂✅💯
The adults over here are trying to have a serious discussion…
If you’re involved then it’s a stupid nonsensical discussion. Carry on…
Yassssssss!! Twerk it hoeeee! Yassssss
I’m glad you recognize and know better….💋
Me and Marilyn drive yo little ass crazy! 💯🤣🤳🏽 GO TEAM! *shakes pom poms* GO TEAM! Yasssssssss!
I understand addressing it once on his own terms and words on his social medias.
But give it up already, no need to go on live television.
As someone who knows this family. I can tell you Kerrion has endured this treatment for decades. Kerrion is a good person. His father holds things over him from his teenage years. Small petty things that our parents would never hold over us! Things our parents would have let go a long time ago. We all make mistakes when we are young. Especially, as teenagers! Kirk should be proud his son wasn’t out there getting arrested, in fights, or worse! No one is perfect! However, when you are a Franklin you must be perfect and holier than thou! Kerrion has a big heart and is full of love. Kirk has always treated him different and Kirk knows this deep down inside. Kerrion has been shunned from his own siblings. His father has kept him away from the family on purpose. Kerrion has been without his fathers financial support since he was 19. He has struggled and struggled and made a way out of no way. This is a decades old feud, and many of us side with Kerrion because we know the truth! There are many of us who feel bad for not speaking up before. You can choose to believe what you want, but try not to pick sides and exit Kerrion out. You can see who the aggressor is on the phone. Kerrion was never disrespectful. He only repeated what his father was saying to him. More audio will come out and the truth will be more exposed. His sister Kennedy is too young to even no the depth of this. She only knows what her parents tell her. At some point Kerrion needed to speak out. His life has been an emotional wreck being shunned and lied on for so long. His father believing gossip or truth. Too many outside people have come in between this relationship. Sometimes you have to go with the last resort. Kerrion couldn’t take it anymore! Pray for the family. Don’t victim shame the victim, please!
This makes perfect sense.
Hi Kerrion. It’s time for you to grow up and get over it. Your dad will never be what you want him to be. Seek therapy and be free.
Tell the son to stop violating his family members’ privacy on the internet. Why did he not take advantage of his dad paying for his college education? Would it not place him in a more self-reliant position?
Both were in the wrong. Period!
No father should threaten his son
And no son should tell his father “shut the f** up”
Case dismissed.
Yasssss Judge Judy! Yassssssss!
WANT JUSTICE? Go to JudgeJudy.com
PERIODDDDDDDDTTT!!!!
Why did they making their family business my business? We don’t give a F U C. K 💅🏿💅🏿💅🏿 We don’t care even if he tied up his son up to the Celling like he was playing some S&M s h I t with his wife 🤳🏿🤳🏿🤳🏿
Yasssssssss b***** f*** em all and let’s twerk to pay these dusty hoës no mind!!! Yasssssss!!
Go team!
👑👠
shayla a good parson dont bassh on her! OK 😡
Oh, hey girl! Thanks. I try.
Parents cursing their kids out is why so many of our people don’t know how to communicate as full grown adults. I’m sure this wasn’t the first time Kirk cursed his son out and can only imagine what led them here. Then adding the religious component probably has exasperated the issues even further. Some things you just can’t pray away. And I know just how stubborn and dismissive black parents can be of their children’s feelings. Kirk absolutely should be apologizing and examining himself. It’s sad that emotional and mental abuse from parents has become so normalized in black culture that people don’t see where Kirk went wrong.
yes is .vary true!
Someone who makes some sense around here.
Stop making it a Black issue!!! I’m Biracial and have a lot of childhood trauma due to my WHITE CUBAN mother. My Black dad was the total opposite; warm,loving, non-judgmental, funny, caring, understanding, comical…. There’s too many racist undertones on this post and in this comment section PERIODT.
You have to work and use the computer and internet, and if you can do that and dedicate some time each day then you can do this with no problem.
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Son if you are a grown man now, how about getting a grown man job. As fathers and mothers we loves our kids, the grown ones as well. Still you owe your father (RESPECTS). Being (RESPECTFUL) don’t cast you anything. Praying for you and your family.