On Father’s Day, ‘Strength, Courage, & Wisdom’ songstress India.Arie found the strength and courage to uncover a dark family secret that’s haunted her for years.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday (June 15), the 4-time GRAMMY winner and her mother Joyce Simpson explained why the annual holiday has been a source of trauma for her family.
“I’m not posting this today to tell you that I’m struggling, because I’m not. I’ve spent my entire adult life working through my issues with my father. I’ve come a long way,” India shared with her 1.1 million followers on the platform before saying, “My mother, though, is coming to terms with her feelings, and we’re supporting each other in telling a deeply personal, shared, story. A family story.”
Pointing fans to her Substack page, Arie (born India Simpson) uncovered a shocking story about years of allegedly enduring abuse at the hands of her father / retired NBA star Ralph Simpson.
“No Father’s Day for you, Ralph Simpson. A secret has a stench that can rot a family from the inside out and destroy future generations. The family curse stops here on this Father’s Day, June 15, 2025. I’ve kept this secret for over 45 years. My India Arie is a survivor,” Joyce relayed after accusing him of sexual and physical assault to herself and India. “I stayed quiet. I still allowed you to publicly be the father that you appeared to be and not the sick father that you are. You, Ralph Simpson, there will be no Father’s Day cards for you or calls or texts from India.”
Promising she would “never forgive him” for some of the more harrowing incidents of abuse, Joyce pointed to times the assaults haunted India well into adulthood.
“I watched India for years on the national, international stages before and after her concerts. I watched her cancel some of her tour dates because she needed to receive medical care. She just struggled,” Joyce shared.
Listen to the full Substack message here.
Click PLAY on the clip of Arie’s 2002 song ‘Get It Together’ where she addressed the childhood abuse.
“One shot to your heart without breaking your skin / No one has the power to hurt you like your kin / Kept it inside, didn’t tell no one else / Didn’t even wanna admit it to yourself,” she sings on the ‘Voyage to India‘ number.
At writing, Ralph has not publicly responded to the accusations.
Another me too gimmick… this is getting old…
Exactly girl! Old and tired now. 45 years ago !? Terrible! I’m sure someone paid her to make these false statements to capitalize off this Me Too wave. Free Kellz. Free Diddy. Free Em All! Sick of these women and their liessss!
too bad her daddy aint rich like R.Kelly nor Diddy so she can’t get nothing from him. That’s why I have no empathy for these attention seeking hos. She was just hating her father for giving her an ugly ass Shrek nose. lol