Gladys Knight Threatens Legal Action, Denies Son’s Claims of Cognitive Decline & Abuse by Her Husband: “I’m Happy & Healthy”

‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ icon Gladys Knight may be gearing up to roll back to court for another lawsuit against her son Shanga Hankerson after he dropped bombshell accusations that the 81-year-old is coping with cognitive decline and suffering from elder abuse at the hands of her husband William McDowell.

As reported here, Hankerson dropped jaws earlier this week when he alleged Knight is experiencing “evident [mental] deterioration” over the last few years and is headlining the ‘Queens Tour‘ alongside Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Stephanie Mills against her will.

In an interview with TSR, Shanga asserted his belief that McDowell is forcing her to tour aggressively and ultimately pushing her to an early grave.

“I did my best to give [McDowell] the space to play the role of husband and do what was in my mom’s best interest, and he has not done that. Why is she working? Why is she in this situation where she’s being made to believe that she has to work like this? That’s really my issue with it,” said Hankerson who claimed Knight’s husband has been “mental[ly] and financial[ly]” abusive to the GRAMMY-winning legend.

Taking things a step further, Shanga claims he filed a complaint with the Department of Human Services in the state where Gladys lives.

At writing, the results of its alleged investigation have not been made public.

In response to the hoopla, the R&B diva took to ‘People’ to issue a statement about her well-being.

“I’m sorry that my health and performances have been misrepresented. I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been on stage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right?” she said. “I’m healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months. I’m excited to get back on the road with my sisters and on stage with The Queens Tour. See you soon,” she relayed to the mag.

Knight’s publicist Laura Herlovich chimed in to address Hankerson directly.

“[Gladys is] greatly saddened by Shanga’s unfounded allegations,” she said before sharing, “At this time our lawyers have no choice but to explore any and all legal remedies due to Shanga’s defamatory comments.”

In response to the threat of legal action, Hankerson – who is a registered therapist – made clear he is willing to respond in-kind.

“This has nothing to do with money for me. I’m trying to get her to stop working,” he said to ‘People’ while sharing he is “absolutely” willing to explore legal remedies against McDowell if necessary. “They can say what they want. If her health has been misrepresented then supply evidence of reliable and verifiable, expert medical opinion that will stake their practice and reputation on their claim to the contrary.”

Longtime fans of Knight know she and Hankerson have faced off in court before.

In 2017, she won a legal battle against him for using her name and likeness in connection with his Gladys Knight’s Chicken & Waffles restaurant; he was sentenced to two years in prison in 2021 for failing to withhold payroll taxes for the food chain.