The Truth About Aretha Franklin Having A Child With Her Own Father

The Truth About Aretha Franklin Having A Child With Her Own Father
Though Reverend CL Franklin was one of the greatest preachers of his time, rumor has it that as he was leading the flock, he was also sleeping with his flock! But did that include sleeping with his own flesh as well? Yes, there have been rumors that CL is the biological father of his daughter Aretha Franklin’s first son, but where are the receipts? Now, I know Aretha’s childhood was pretty messed up, but after doing a little more digging even I couldn’t believe the things she experienced and some of it at the hands of her own father.
DISCLAIMER: Content might be gossip, rumors, or exaggerated - based on trending news on social media, Twitter and otherwise. Viewers are advised to do their own research before forming their opinion.

[@joycegivan4244]

IF ANYONE HAS ACHIEVED ADULTHOOD...WITHOUT TRAUMA..BE THANKFUL. ARETHA WAS A LEGEND AND NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE THAT FROM HER.😔

[@lalat5899]

No one’s trying to take anything from her. 😅

[@PlusVK22]

Everyone's had some type of trauma on some level. Some worse than others.

[@missamerica2694]

Being raped and impregnated by your father is not typical childhood trauma ; this is demonic!

[@malcriadamedina5358]

Such a twisted way of thinking. No one is taking anything from her for having been abused as a child...

[@AHLIYON]

She literally had a period in her life where she was alcoholic. She has definitely had some trauma but she didn’t let her trauma Overcome her. That’s the difference.

[@NatureHeadSupreme]

Sexual abuse from fathers to daughters probably is the most horrifying trauma there is. I hope she had some type of person or therapy that helped her internally. Invisible injury is something else.

[@LalasKitchenCo]

Yes it is. Nothing compares and the trauma lasts a lifetime

[@successmanifestation2769]

I was touched by my father and trust and believe that pain of betrayal never goes away. I have huge trust issues and I don’t trust anyone around my daughter, especially men.

[@NatureHeadSupreme]

@@successmanifestation2769 yes, I relate on top of physical abuse. I hope your healing stays trending upward. Hardest recovery ever.

[@latema.k]

@@successmanifestation2769i’m so sorry to hear that mama!

[@lightskinssj9815]

Don’t know a lot about her but for the time period and her being a young women/ girl most likely overlooked by family in regards to her father but I assuming

[@letitiaabuckley7968]

Celie said it best, "A girl child ain't safe in a house full of men"!!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼👀👂🏼🙋‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️❤

[@LTAries88]

That was Sophia

[@Darkandlovelyqueen1]

she said not safe In family men

[@letitiaabuckley7968]

@@LTAries88 Thank you! Sophia, Celie it still is TRUE!!🎯

[@letitiaabuckley7968]

@@Darkandlovelyqueen1 Thank you. What was said is TRUE!!!🎯

[@CearaSulierLove]

That’s sad…. But it really is all about how you were raised… I was practically raised in the same house with 5 older male cousins and never felt anything but safe & protected around them…. We were raised in the Pentecostal COGIC Church, and No our family of course wasn’t perfect although GrandDad was a Pastor, Nana District Missionary and all that lol…. There was still “mess”…. & some stories of distant “kissing cousins” that I’ve never met from way back & stuff like that…. But I truly believe in the Spiritual warfare, strongholds, & generational curses, etc… that mess is real… but I agree, in a lot of cases that statement is sadly true… but not all. That stuff runs deep & way back…. Also, gotta know what kind of people you are marrying into as well….. People are weird behind closed doors man…. Scary…

[@annc6046]

It sickens me that all these adults in her church and around her sat back and allowed the abuse of a child and refused to report it.😢

[@KeithEasley-vc1mb]

This is a loe

[@lulugoulart5014]

That is what churches do! Allowing priests, preachers and pastors do whatever they want.🤮

[@Bri-nc8yp]

This is why I don’t go to black church’s… we black people are degenerate outside the church and even more degenerate inside the church.

[@KNByam]

Those adults hold a preacher up as though they're God. All the women in the congregation want to be a preacher's wife, so there's a lot of philandering.

[@ForevaLaTrelle]

Ppl treat pastors like a god in a lot of churches. Like they can do no wrong. Where I live, there’s a church where the pastor had to register as a sex offender got messing with young girls in the church. And ppl still choose to go there like nothing happened. Just sick.

[@everythinglaurenlex5873]

The fact that her family is still hiding and covering this up is horrific. Regardless if the father and Aretha are no longer here- the family needs to air it out!!!! To protect their future kids

[@eritreayamini6801]

maybe they did ..without putting it on social media

[@myaalexander354]

There’s no one left to threaten “future kids.” The predator is dead. At this point, all exposing this would do is humiliate Aretha’s son. Who would want the world to know their grandfather is their father? He’s a victim too and victims deserve privacy.

[@everythinglaurenlex5873]

@@myaalexander354 you have no idea WHO the predator is actually because they never confirmed it. Reread what I said. It can even be someone who was Aretha’s age… we don’t know. Victims do deserve privacy, but the community and family should know who to have their kids around and who shouldn’t be around. Especially if it was someone Aretha’s age that could still be alive

[@myaalexander354]

​@@everythinglaurenlex5873 Sorry I misunderstood your comment to be in belief that the father was the predator. But you're right, if the culprit is still a threat, I agree they should be exposed. But if it was the father, I don't think they owe us that info at the expense of the son's privacy.

[@alexishogan6342]

Just because it’s not public to use doesn’t mean they are hiding it

[@yogijones8527]

Trauma causes depression, loneliness, isolation, embarrassment it gets stored in your cells and I believe Aretha had a food addiction because of this..

[@newbeginnings3603]

I do too. She supposedly was an alcoholic too. I think she traded one addiction for another. The church ruined her mental health . I believe she kept a lot of secrets out of respect for the church.

[@user-lj9ms7fy1w]

Facts!

[@susandoig4192]

And respect for her father

[@incognitonegress3453]

N NEITHER deserved an iota of it.

[@BlackCulturalPreservation2023]

Exactly

[@lamarx1271]

It’s awful how the church has historically been a hub for soo much abuse. Folks are tied to these buildings and institutions where they are being mislead, exploited and abused. The church is literally the cause of soo much hurt, specifically in our community.

[@CammieCakesz]

The church hasn’t done anything but be there. It’s these wolves in sheep’s clothing that use God and the church to manipulate people! Stop blaming the church and start holding the PEOPLE accountable! The church is just a place to gather to receive the word. Ppl come to the church already broken and is full of sinners. God didn’t tell these ppl to be wicked and if you were spiritual or religious you’d know what they do is the opposite of what they preach! That’s why it’s important to know God as he provides discernment.

[@alegria1094]

And that’s all because people don’t read the Bible and start following man with false doctrine and make them gods by, putting them on a pedestal on the place of God

[@lamarx1271]

@@alegria1094 the slavemaster’s Bible?

[@Dr.Elaine1]

@@lamarx1271Slaves masters were in Ethiopia?

[@Dr.Elaine1]

It’s also awful how the family has historically been and currently is a hub for so much abuse.

[@billyb4665]

The scary thing is that Clarence is a special needs person. And it's typical for children born through incest to have particular birth defects, including his. This is terrifying. That biopic could've been a whole other movie, had it explored things people have really been wondering.

[@amo2464]

But the biopic was intended as a scandalous and salacious take on her life. It was a celebration of her talent, voice, music

[@greatgoodnessgoddessgratit5611]

This was so common. This happened to my aunties in their childhood. Sad how men especially men viewed as men of God abuse their children and families. Glad my mother kept from my daddy’s side of the family. Also, my step dad was a well known pastor in my childhood church. Church is one of the first things I disowned once I became a mother. Church was an interesting experience for me and it wasn’t even that traumatic just didn’t line up with personal growth.

[@auspiciousexhibionist]

My grandmother is messed up mentally because of things like this because her aunt and uncle were heavily apart of the church.

[@SirenScorpio]

It's sad the blind coverage given to "men of the cloth" for the idea of faith... In the south (and possibly other places) it's an obvious mental stronghold and to imagine it's been ingrained for generations. I feel like ppl need a better understanding of the difference between faith and religion so they won't be manipulated.

[@jessicalee3546]

As a victim myself, I can definitely speak on this. I beg you please understand. These "men" are not men of God. These men belong to Satan. For anyone who uses the word of God in such an evil way is definitely not of God. Please dig in to the scripture yourself. I promise you, you'll see that God is real and he's never left you. He's been with you through it all. He is alive. Please please read for yourself. Go in to it with all your might and he will reveal himself to you. Jesus is the only way to heaven. God bless you and keep you.

[@ladyshorty6989]

​@@jessicalee3546amen 🙏 🙌 ❤

[@donnapollock]

I'm so sorry to hear this sad news...

[@louiedangelo3843]

Damn her father was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That was a sick man to do that to your own daughter.

[@etvscandalfanpage2011]

Who wouldn't wanna be known as Aretha Franklin's baby daddy. My point is if it was really that "boy" from school he would have came out by now I mean🤷‍♀️

[@TeKeyaKrystal]

this is a very good point

[@incognitonegress3453]

The ONLY logical point

[@JaeLshae30]

Exactly

[@tokyocrystal]

Any time I hear stories like this it makes my stomach turn and I want to puke🤢it sickens me to my core when I hear how a father took their daughters innocence and have a child at that...My God, Im speechless I can imagine what she went through mentally. My heart hurts terribly for her and the other ladies. Its stories like these why I just cant step in a church anymore.

[@Im.A.Potatoe]

It makes them feel empowered I'm guessing

[@nitely2345]

It’s not Gods fault that evil men will disguise themselves as his followers and use that for evil. A lot of us were saved by the word and can attest to how it helps people everyday. It’s just sad that so many evil ones will wear the robes and carry the Bible’s and then deter others from finding God.

[@kristenasessoms8879]

Her childhood was so sad. It amazes me how grown people thinks it's a good idea to take advantage of young people smh. It looks like her dad was her child's father so sad.

[@emilystevens6335]

i don't believe that. the real father was likely some old preacher covering up his own dirt by lieing on her father.

[@CourageUnderFire87]

@@emilystevens6335 I think so too! Probably another famous preacher and Aretha’s father told her to keep quiet about it. “ Church” people

[@emilystevens6335]

@@CourageUnderFire87 A child who has been molested by her father, and the family rarely are in unison supporting their father.

[@akeishaharris]

He was

[@millennialodyssey5956]

I think he was too. If she claimed he was the son of her second son's father she could have said that all along but she didn't. All that time she hid it and I think that supposed will was either planted there by someone else or she made it in hopes people would stop saying it was her father. As a victim myself I have talked about things happening to me but I have never disclosed who did it to me. Only a small number of people know my predators by name and they are family. It's just something I don't like disclosing to strangers. Victims deal with things their own way and I understand her not wanting to tell because of who her father was and because it was her father.

[@tyardovdabulldht2340]

Aretha's Oldest son CLARENCE has severe mental issues, maybe mildly retarded. THATS the smoking gun for me! His Mother is his half sister and his daddy is his father and grandfather! Ladt I heard he's been in a "home" for mentally disabled adults for years. And she left money for his care!

[@christinalovett3472]

😮

[@OHoneyPot]

This!!

[@Shaylaset]

I was wondering this , wow that’s crazy

[@CourageUnderFire87]

Or maybe it was another family member uncle or cousin?!!

[@radioog6945]

Omfg

[@loulou9978]

Sexual abuse is horrifying. Do not act as if she was a willing participant with her father if that’s even the case! Let her rest in peace.

[@alee111]

A child cannot be "willing" full stop. Legally or literally. Especially when they've been groomed since birth.

[@malcriadamedina5358]

No one is acting like that. What sick mind do you have that you took this video to mean people thought she was willing. Children cannot consent, it's rape. She was raped.

[@IsabellGreen]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@woodymajjet2644]

Right the media is so messy can't stand em

[@irriehicks9604]

I suspect that with in the family they know who is the father of her eldest son. I also believe that's the reason her mother left the home for good.

[@IamLaniya]

Basically abandoning her girls and leaving them with a predator.

[@traveonsmith256]

​@@IamLaniya she wanted to take them he wouldn't let her

[@rayedel1975]

Aretha's mother was already deceased when Aretha became pregnant.

[@rayedel1975]

@@IamLaniya no. Barbara was already deceased.

[@JaeLshae30]

@@rayedel1975yea but he could’ve been abusing her before she finally got pregnant

[@pamelahurt8168]

He was sick...only demons do this...he should have been run out of town. Where was her mother? Who could just let this happen nasty..

[@RuthLessGemini]

He was ran outta Tennessee!

[@handbagmammi]

The devil comes in many forms.

[@bdjordan7879]

Her mother died when she was ten.

[@jamicamonroe]

He ran the mother off and she later died

[@TeKeyaKrystal]

@@bdjordan7879goodness gracious . what a rough childhood.. your mother dies when you're 10 , then you're raped into becoming a mother when you're 12.. Lord have mercy on Aretha's soul

[@DeeNice681]

They offered Damon Wayans the part of CL Franklin in ‘Respect’. He turned it down because it is implied that he raped his daughter. He didn’t want to play a pedo, and I understand. He told Marlon about the part of Aretha’s husband, and Marlon accepted that part.

[@HumbleBeauty679]

My father molested me when i was young. I dont know the exact age it started, or how long it went on, but as an innocent child I stopped it. Now as a grown woman I have to get therapy

[@nogoofystv]

You pulled them pantys down to the ground and gave daddy that 🐈

[@ctcocoa]

Im so sorry you went through this !!!! Please get therapy && learn you were a precious baby who did not deserve that ❤ Sending so much love hugs and kisses

[@kdmurray3999]

@@nogoofystvyou need help.

[@leebutler2228]

@@nogoofystvMAN WTF WRONG WITH YOU BRO SHE WAS RAPED AS A CHILD BRO

[@tamekastrickland9743]

​@@nogoofystvThat's just low down and pathetic for you to say.🤡

[@ShaunaAllen-qn6lt]

If this story is true, Aretha should not be judged. A young teenager who has an overbearing and prominent father has course of resistance That woman was talented but had a hard life. Let her rest in peace.

[@3n1sunmoon62]

That's Way She Was So Messed Up Mentally & Physically.

[@MeMe-hu8wx]

why she neglected her health and had her boobs look so broken down and hardly wore a bra?

[@genevaj6469]

She did not smile much Seemed said

[@Tracy1753]

How was she messed up mentally?

[@Okokok830]

This is the generation that preaches to us about morals 😓.

[@thebuttermilkgirlisback]

In the respect movie, the first scene was of her father creeping into her bedroom waking her up. Of course, it was so she could come downstairs and entertain the guests, but it was a subtle hint.

[@sweetreny1155]

In my opinion no it wasn't a subtle hint I don't believe he had nothing to do with her pregnancy. I do believe it was one of of the younger guest that came over to his party he thrown that night.

[@IamLaniya]

@@sweetreny1155Have you watched both films and looked at any of her interviews? So many tell, tell signs. If her first son was from some random guest at a party WHY keep his identity a secret? It doesn’t make sense. She reveals ALL of her other sons dads but not the first one? Then has all of his birth information sealed? Come on now, you have to be smarter than that.

[@Yepyep341]

@@IamLaniyastill no proof it’s her fathers so let it go

[@jaistylzhairsalon7783]

@@IamLaniyaI agree with you. It’s always been suspicious, however when I saw her oldest son at the funeral, he just seemed a little OFF & it sealed the deal for me!

[@l.d.9164]

@@IamLaniyaFACT! I only watched the movie wit Jennifer Hudson, but you can tell how the Father was acting whenever another man of her interest came around. It’s sad & we have to stop sweeping things under the rug, because it PROTECTS the Abuser‼️

[@ciarayung7967]

I can believe this. It’s sad but I can definitely believe this

[@seanettecoaxum3269]

I can believe it why I am a living witness I was adopted everything about me change why everything about me change because my mother was 16 years old when she had me and my biological father is a uncle or a cousin crazy😢 and I don't know my father's side but I'm to still trying to find his side I found my mother's side I did ancestry I'm still searching my father out crazy😢

[@calvinterrell2053]

I did know Aretha personally. I was not close to her, but I also knew some of her family as well as some, who were very close to her. I like to believe she trusted me on one level or another. And so, whatever the true parental facts concerning her sons, I think it hurt her when ppl speculated and whispered behind her back. I felt bad for her. If just some of these things actually occurred, losing her mother at such an early age. Having to be on front street as a young star even in the church world. Having her weight issues most of her life and finally living with an illness that ultimately took her life (and lemme also say that this Queen went out on stage in front of thousands of people although her body was feeble and visibly frail), I loved her so...When horrible things happen to ppl (even celebrities) it's not cool to pounce, kee-kee, poke fun and point fingers at them, right? Show a little more love to others and perhaps when your time comes, more love and compassion will be there, waiting for you...

[@EWFIRE65]

Well said

[@sassyk471]

If you knew her personally why aren’t you saying who her son’s father is?? It would put all this gossip to rest finally

[@ladyshorty6989]

❤❤❤

[@redvelvet9876]

Your right. We all want to know though. I would never laugh at her or judge her. She had been through alot.

[@jossyj1]

@@sassyk471Not her place and not our business….

[@Naiki29]

This is more normalized than we realize. I hope she found peace in her latter days. 😞

[@iBOXRIVER]

No not normal. Not even common. Just weird

[@Naiki29]

@@iBOXRIVER IN FACT IT IS COMMON. DO YOUR RESEARCH ON CHILDHOOD TRUMA AND ABUSE. YES IT IS WEIRD. BUT FOR THE OLDER GENERATION THIS IS REALLY COMMON. IDK MAYBE YOU HAVENT BEEN THROUGH NOTHING OR ASKED YOUR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS QUESTIONS.

[@iBOXRIVER]

@@Naiki29 It is NOT common. Especially when taking into account RATIO, in regards to the 7 billion human beings that exist. If this type of thing is normal to YOU or your family. Then speak for yourself and not the rest of humanity👋🏾

[@Zlervo]

This is why you cannot trust these church pastors. If they're not sleeping with their congregation, they're fleecing them of every penny.

[@Yepyep341]

U better not trust people period tf

[@lynntaitt-kj8lc]

@@Yepyep341 Preachers are PIMPS of the cloth. It's a good racket for a low-life black man. He gets to get the money, and the p****.

[@ReturnJaguar]

They becoming pastors & bishops like getting high school diploma r GED

[@kwandrayalewis3911]

This brings me back to her song A Rose is Still A Rose for some reason

[@PatriciaGrady-tl5qh]

She was raped by her own so called father . That's why her body looked so mature . It was also said that he raped another young girl at his church and got her pregnant . This is where most of the predators are at , in the black church .

[@Kre8iviT27]

Yep. He had a baby with another 12yo girl. Just disgusting!

[@faithsdollsville2662]

What about white churches? Predators are wherever humans are.

[@WayneGrizzly-kx1zi]

Definitely the white churches too

[@peculiarstar4261]

Oh no not just in the black church. First of all predators know no color. The devil knows no color.

[@Jazzy-mt3ht]

We know that, but we're talking about how perverted and nasty a lot of black men are to women in their family and everywhere.

[@sipnog3528]

Oh my goodness. I never knew she suffered such abuse at a tender age😢

[@myalistjourney4742]

You still don't know. Don't be dumb enough to believe anything posted on KZbin for money.

[@oncetwice5942]

I didn’t know either. I just found this out today 😢.

[@crystalharris-thomas1939]

During this time period in the 60's when young girls had children at a young age out of wedlock, it was not uncommon for them to name their male children after their grandfather/ fathers. It was seen as a way of asking their fathers forgiveness. She endured a lot, she made mistakes just all of us do. God still forgave her and showed favor. May Ms. Franklin rest in peace.❤❤❤ May her family have peace as they grieve the death of their mom/grandmom.

[@LUXINUMBRA]

Terrible and heartbreaking 💔. What a strong person she must have been to survive such challenging things

[@noybmyob9663]

A DNA test will solve the question of whom her first two sons' father or fathers are. Do not even need to exhume CL Franklin. Test the two eldest children and compare to the DNA of Aretha and if they are 'too much her son's', meaning a restricted been pool due to incest, everyone will know. Clarence looks TOO much like his 'grandfather'. Also CL was on the down low too?! This just gets worse and worse with his legacy and he had someone tamper with Barbara Digger's car? She wanted to get all of those children away from that monster! In addition, Carolyn was gay, why and how did that happen? So many questions.

[@pprincess3669]

Whose Carolyn And What About Her?

[@quidddaboss1061]

Aretha sister

[@Yepyep341]

Where u got this information from?

[@tamararamsey5455]

It is appalling that they would have the nerve to type that she at 12, had a child with her father‼️ it's sickening to think that a CHILD can do such a thing! If it is true, SHE had nothing to do with it!! She was a child. He was the adult. Don't get it twisted by trying to misconstrue that she had these babies because she was willing and wanted to. She was RAPED‼️‼️taken advantage of, And should not of had to go through what she had to endure in her young life‼️

[@trinitricia6310]

Facts!

[@kaylandry3142]

This a billion!!! Thank you.

[@AngieHart67]

😢

[@malcriadamedina5358]

No one is saying that, just you.

[@cherylfisher5037]

I believe that Aretha Franklins father did rape her and got her pregnant at the age of 12 and then at fifteen. I think it's a damn shame that it happened to her because the adults around her should have protected her. Thereby forcing her to grow up before her time. A child being forced to carry and have children while they're still children themselves is beyond horrific. My own father tried to molest me. He didn't succeed because I prevented it from happening. But if I allowed him to - he would have raped me. He is now deceased - good riddance.

[@forever_tam]

I picked up on that energy while just watching the movie. So I know Detroit folks knew what was going on.

[@TurnAwayNow]

I've ALWAYS felt he fathered her child since I 1st heard & read about it. So despicable.

[@handbagmammi]

I always thought that the relationship between her and her father was weird. He had other children, but always took only Aretha with him. He left the other kids with his mom while traveling

[@Jazzy-mt3ht]

You have to be careful whenever parents start becoming more closer to a particular child. They start favoring and grooming that child.

[@jamesgeorge5276]

That's because Aretha could sing, her voice stood out above all the other children!! He would take her all over the place and make her sing!!

[@theettabell153]

Aretha learned how to play men early to get all What she wanted. He put her up front and gave Her spotlight

[@DreG884]

​@@theettabell153if she learnt that was probably from the bad influences and bad parenting she received when she was a CHILD!

[@larkt6693]

That’s really really nasty. 🤢

[@sanplusthree]

Yes 😢

[@Tracy1753]

He had an addiction.

[@BJW6643]

This happens so sad but she is in a better place now ❤

[@reneamcgee984]

There are a lot of monsters like this and these Mama’s are silent. Still today

[@Jazzy-mt3ht]

I heard there are a lot of perverted mothers as well who help the father molest little girls. Some mothers have been caught sleeping with their sons. Some lesbians trying to fuck their daughters.

[@Virgo_Reign77]

This gives a new meaning to, "only one who could ever reach me, was the son of a preacher man".😢

[@Latasha-qz1lz]

So he was a pimp, a preacher, predator, drug dealer, and messed with his child just sick🤢🤮

[@Jazzy-mt3ht]

Don't forget he fucked men in the ass and was a closet homosexual.

[@susanwoodsnonprofitsolutio7216]

Well, he suffered for several years in the hospital after being shot in a home burglary.

[@chriscooks5437]

Dont forget murderer who tampered with his ex wife's car.

[@louiedangelo3843]

That man in hell.

[@Ms.FullPotential]

Exactly!!

[@averageamericangirl6819]

It’s 2023 and folks are wondering who is the pappy and we have DNA tests. Have the son take a test and see who his relatives are.

[@andrealucas7424]

We need "Maury", lol

[@apriljohnson7447]

He probably wouldn't take one

[@elainemurphy7944]

I think CL Franklin fathered Aretha’s first child at 12 years old and that is why he is a special needs person.

[@TeKeyaKrystal]

that's what i've been looking in the comments for.. i'm surprised this video didn't speak to any mental or physical disabilities that is often the result of incest reproduction in humans

[@boriqua1222]

Yes, the son is under guardianship and wasn't part of the inheritance proceedings. Even looking at him, you can tell he has genetic defects.

[@ava7802]

Amen, he's well taken care of thou.

[@JaeLshae30]

What kind of disability?

[@jacquelineseabrooks7798]

Her youngest son’s special needs could also be the result of Aretha’s body being ill-prepared for childbirth at 12 years old; hell, she was a child herself. Furthermore, despite her father’s standing in the community, health care for young Black mothers, not to mention 12 year old Black mothers, was not optimal. No matter though, it’s just a darned shame that she was impregnated and had two children before she was 15. But despite all of that and then some more, she was, is, and always will be Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul.

[@mikehill5886]

This is true; being from Detroit now living in Charlotte,NC...I do remember stories about this. I lived down the street from their church on Linwood ave on the west side of the Detroit. People don't remember that her Father and REV. J Cleveland( he is in your video ) knew each other well birds of a feather hang together ... Cleveland died of AIDS from sleeping with men and boys. Something that the Baptist Church tried to hide under the rug for years and from my knowledge this goes on at their conventions today in some places. Nice video tell the true shine light on the wicked.

[@louiedangelo3843]

Damn, some sick fuckers “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”

[@detroit313diiiiva9]

It is known in Detroit that Reverend Franklin was her 1st sons father. But it also said that he would wear womens clothing and sleep with men and was very promiscuous.

[@Marinegrunt0311]

They also say he preyed on young girls

[@joy2theworld488]

SAY WHAT??😳

[@detroit313diiiiva9]

@@Marinegrunt0311 They sure did

[@detroit313diiiiva9]

@@joy2theworld488 Yes he would put on women’s clothes and would meet the men with some of the prostitutes he was pimping out.

[@Marinegrunt0311]

@@detroit313diiiiva9 313 ok I grew up in Pontiac

[@hopesanchez3501]

I believe that, it was her father. Otherwise her father would have beaten it out of her to, name her baby's daddy.......

[@granniemom1675]

That’s really sad. I never knew this 😢RIP 🙏🏿 Aretha

[@gayhendrie84]

If she named all her children after their father Then she told it on him

[@Jazzy-mt3ht]

The first child has special needs so we know he comes from her father incestuous ass.

[@incognitonegress3453]

💅🏽

[@yournamemustbejealousy2062]

I heard that Aretha had a terrible sister girl attitude now I understand why. Her dad was a hustler just like other men that are head of the c h u r c h.

[@chriscooks5437]

Her nasty attitude is legendary. Chaka, Gladys, Luther & Patti have stories about her, to name a few.

[@yknowwhatcrys4791]

This is so wild!! I wish they would leave kids alone, it’s so sick 🥺😔

[@debralipscomb2072]

Back in the older days. Everyone was so secret. and was scared to say anything. So we will never know.

[@Valgef]

The question i have is, what black father any1 knows, wouldn't want to kill the man who impregnated their 12 year old daughter? Idk any. Why keep the daddy a mystery? Why?

[@chriscooks5437]

To keep his livihood in church ministry & related businesses.

[@kmoney9112]

A father who also impregnates 12 yr olds ! He impregnated a 12yr old church Member! So sexual predators don’t see the wrong in their fellow peers.

[@piustwelfth]

It's likely true: 1) Aretha named all her sons after their fathers. Her first son is named "Clarence"; 2) Aretha's first child looks like her father; 3) her first child has disability issues that are common with incest; 4) It's known that C.L. Franklin impregnated a 12-yr-old child in his congregation. Aretha was exactly the same age when she had her son "Clarence". It's just terrible. It's truly amazing that Aretha accomplished all she did in her life.

[@analuisatorres1562]

Disgusting behavior… the HYPOCRISY of ‘some’ leaders yesterday and today.

[@KelleyTheAdvocate]

This has S.A. written all over it. Aretha was a victim of abuse all her life. She knew no different because she was conditioned to this behavior by an abuser! If someone says different, then they are just like them. This is devastating to hear this happened to her. We obviously weren’t there so it’s all speculation at this point. However Aretha was neglected her whole childhood. 😢 what a strong woman she became.

[@TwoSistersTwoMics]

Rest in peace. Icon!!❤❤

[@tiffanystewart7518]

this should be an example of how trauma, abuse etc does not have to break you. this little girl grew on to be great..

[@mostmagnificent6760]

A lot of times the TRUTH isn't UNVEILED until ppl are deceased for several reasons.

[@antitheticalprincess6616]

This happened to so many of my cousins and finding that out as an adult has irreparably traumatized me. The delusion, the enabling... it's all sickening. That I was never sexually abused in my family is nothing short of a blessing but it shouldn't be surprising to have remained without that abuse. It shouldn't be a common occurrence for every woman I know to have some sort of sexual trauma endured at the hands of men that they were born around and who were entrusted with their care and development. Black women never get to be black girls first. They never get to exist as children or stay in a child's place fr, and it's somehow always their fault rather than the clearly depraved and abusive men lingering, pushing the same fast nature onto young girls that they use to justify the abuse. This is why the struggle of black men takes a backseat to the struggles of black women in my mind. They do nothing but perpetuate trauma and outsource their own damn healing responsibilities. I'm over it

[@Belinda-nb3pm]

Stop hating the ladies that make the babies.😢

[@Michael_Izayah1989]

Honestly that right there from going through my own personal pain and trauma is the reason why I don't trust pastors, preacher's, and deacons and none of those type of people in church!

[@SheedMack88]

Watching the movie with Cynthia Erivo I got an EERIE feeling that her father was the father 🤢

[@handbagmammi]

I liked that movie better than the one with JHud. It wasn't because of JHUD, I just think the first one was written better

[@l.d.9164]

@@handbagmammiReally? I wanna watch that 1, but I’m not tryna pay for it, lol

[@SheedMack88]

@@handbagmammi I like Jhud as well but Cynthia’s Version was MUCH BETTER in my opinion story and acting wise

[@juaquinsims4847]

This has been addressed multiple times throughout Aretha’s life. Aretha and her siblings have vehemently denied it.

[@TeKeyaKrystal]

really ? maybe if they would've offered another answer folks would've stopped asking if it was their father

[@mirandam5746]

What are they going to say? Yes my father f’d my sister and impregnated her.

[@cressapellom4205]

@@TeKeyaKrystalI mean it would be nice to know but it’s not really any of our business.

[@rustyhowe3907]

@@TeKeyaKrystal Their family doesn't owe any fans ANY explanations.

[@Teebee44]

Of course they did

[@lilbit5672]

Wow wasnt ready for this.

[@latricahill8338]

That's how u know God is real. U can't play with him, u see how it ended for him

[@carolharris1236]

I wouldn’t be surprised if he did do something so despicable. After all, he had a child with another 12 year old girl. It’s disheartening to know he was such a disgusting predator. 🤮

[@louiedangelo3843]

That man in hell.

[@thelovelyvalc]

​@@louiedangelo3843I hope he is

[@theinsightfulvisionary0197]

He really did!!! That's really fkd up!!!

[@shonteealaran1149]

I always wondered that 🤔

[@MsRoslim]

Lord Have Mercy!! I don't know what to think! I do know it was very sickening reading this!! Man!! RIP Queen of Soul!!

[@user-mv5ss7zk2n]

SO SAD I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT HAPPENING BUT I BELIVE IT HAPPENED WHAT KIND OF MAN DOES THIS TO HIS OWN CHILD HE WAS TOTALLY SICK HE WAS BY NO MAN OF GOD

[@angelagranberry4816]

There were a lot of grown folks in and out of the house. Rev Franklin was very popular.

[@chellelechelle]

I know a 5 year old child that made a claim that their dad had touched their private parts and showed them how to touch it. The mom asked the dad because before her daughter made the claim she said her daughter was complaining of irritation down there and she noticed redness but thought maybe it was bad soap giving her a harsh reaction & he denied it so she took the child to be examined and a state investigation was launched after the child told the same story to the nurses, doctor, and police. An investigation was launched and the mom said the white male investigator told her that he didn’t think the dad did it simply because he was a single dad himself & “sometimes men had to do things that women may be uncomfortable with when it involves girl children” except that the child’s dad wasn’t single & she also said he stated that they may never know because the child was too young to say what happened although she told everyone the same story and never wavered. It turns out the Mom had threatened to kill the child’s Dad multiple times after her daughter told her what he was doing so he showed the messages to the Investigator when he came to speak with him to portray the narrative that the mom had put the child up to saying something so disgusting even though the child had interviews without the mom and told authorities the same story as she did her mom. He ended up filing charges against the mom for the threats she made and she ended up going to jail & trying to fight her for custody of the child now so that she may be in his care full time. I told her that the move he made about the threats was a coverup for the things his own child had said against him to paint her as a problematic mother he used that to hide his evil doings. She should have sued the state for not doing a proper investigation because the Investigator was clearly bias being that he was a single dad. He completely ignored everything the child said to doctors, nurses, and the police. The mom is suffering heavily from deep depression, suicidal tendencies, & isolation now because no one believed her & her daughter and allowed him to paint her as a criminal for making threats towards him which I totally understood based on what the child said. Its so sad it breaks my heart what they went through and he got off scot free & yes their are men who do those kinds of disgusting acts to their children & if a child ever says they’ve been violated please believe them & don’t protect the abuser because they will only continue and have more victims.

[@dontworryboutit8157]

Glad somebody finally telling the truth/story

[@Jeebie81]

The narration had me screaming!! Thank you for reading that quote by Ray Charles. I nearly died. 😂😂😂😂

[@user-mv5ss7zk2n]

SHE TRULY LIVED A TRAMATIC LIFE SO SAD

[@danijacob4119]

I know a man who did the same with his daughter. I don’t know how she forgave him. He gave her a child as well

[@brendagay5777]

Let her rest in peace God made her strong

[@denisecox8683]

Yes from the movie I suspected the way he controlled her that it was him who got her pregnant

[@wednesdayrenee_]

I always thought this when I found he had impregnated a 12yr old while her mother was pregnant with her. I’ve heard about men like him during that era from relatives from that era and sadly enough… It wasn’t uncommon.

[@genevaj6469]

When the movie of the small child pregnant I was in shock 😮 Who else had access to the child No outrage from the father about it She took the secret to the grave RIP 🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️ It was not her fault

[@user-mi5xd6qx2q]

Yes, I have always thought he was the father of his daughter's son. I think that is why Aretha sang with so much painful soul. I am 79 yrs old so I have seen a lot of this sort of horrible behavior covered up!

[@thegardener8694]

THIS STORY NEEDED TO BE TOLD

[@cflo1023]

No it did not.

[@MiriamIsrael-cn4fx]

It is only gossip now let her rest in peace. All those people that was around kept quiet, why are they speaking up now. She was a child and nobody spoke up at the time to recuse at that time. But are now jumping on the gossip bandwagon.

[@heavendolll]

@@MiriamIsrael-cn4fxit was actually in the genius movie version Aretha and I believe it . Aretha son is special Needs and I think it’s because the dad had a child with his own daughter. And he got a girl pregnant when she was 12 he had kids that age

[@Ms.Royalty7743]

I was waiting for somebody to say this. When I first heard about her story, I immediately assumed her daddy was the father.

[@gabba5423]

This happened a lot back in the day. Just no one talked about it.

[@shalini1949]

Amen🙌🏽🙏🏽

[@nettnettwarren1432]

This is exactly why there should be stipulations on abortions. If its rape, incest, or harmful to the mothers health, they should have abortion rights. This is so sad. And yes I too was screaming, where's the outrage for this child from the adults, even the grandmother. Aretha was determined to stay strong.

[@malcriadamedina5358]

Stipulations? No bb , children should not need to disclose rape for abortion. Abortion fee for all, regardless of circumstances or ability to disclose!

[@oneinamillion8769]

​@@malcriadamedina5358yes abortion rights for all... period

[@imanim6901]

That’s not fair on the baby though, it’s an innocent baby who knows absolutely nothing, if you don’t want to actually raise the child at least give it to a family that can.

[@JesusisKing842]

So commit murder to a baby . to justify a rape ans commit another abomination to God . As someone who did this and the trauma and demons that came with it I can assure you killing the baby and herding a young child in an abortion clinic like cattle is the wrong action to take on so many levels. Also, stop trying to hurt the children that survived from being born from rape with the demon of murder (Molech ) speaking from within you .

[@Kafkaontheshore9]

@@imanim6901just imagine living your life knowing that you’re were born because your mother got rap3d. I think it’s better to not be born at all. Life it’s already difficult as it is.

[@mssjbsf77]

Never visited this channel but have long known of this story and agree with the hosts conclusion. Dear Host, you are hilarious with those damn "allegedly" whispers. And the "did Ray Charles just say he saw something?" Dead.

[@genesistafari]

So sorry that happened to her May she rest in power

[@movielovers8741]

Damn😯

[@user-lj9ms7fy1w]

This makes me cry.😢

[@MoneyGrip70]

Sad!

[@evelynwilliams1514]

That's like asking is Diana Ross daughter Berry Gordy .Back in the day

[@tinawoodard2184]

He is.

[@MsDisneylandlover]

Very sad

[@sonofwar1345]

Sad 😢rip

[@Divorced.]

The day of judgement will be very interesting. May God have mercy on us all.

[@labelsandlife]

I need more tea on this topic. All this info is wild!

[@barbarabrownhenry9065]

I had heard in the early 70’s the Aretha’s father was her first born son father… this was so sickening, 2 births under the age of 15 🤱🏽🤱🏽poor Aretha 😔🥺😢

[@dr.brendaarnold-scott2023]

Damn!

[@teresitar7455]

That’s crazy

[@christinalovett3472]

I was definitely leery of the Dad when I saw the movie. Something about him made me feel as though he was molesting Aretha.

[@orawhorton8778]

Everything in the movie or a movie is not true

[@Rena-ny6om]

Please have respect for the dead. It was HER story to share not anyone else’s. If she didn’t share it for the world no one else has the right to. This is what’s wrong with the world now no one respects each other. God help us!

[@littleme3597]

Yes. You did a good job.

[@zenobia.wowcrockett5288]

Wow that's interesting ❤❤❤