Updated on August 18 as of 5p.m.ET: Gladys Knight is speaking out to combat the shocking elder abuse claims being pushed by her son, Shanga Henderson.
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In a statement to the New York Post on Monday, the “Love Overboard” singer said that her “health and performances have been misrepresented.”
Knight continued: “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? 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.”
See the original story below.
Gladys Knight, the legendary singer who’s about to hit the road for the second leg of “The Queen’s Tour” alongside Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Stephanie Mills–is making waves online. But the reason why is anything but positive.
Per a shocking new interview from her son Shanga Hankerson released on Tuesday, he’s now filed a DHS complaint, alleging “elder abuse” at the hands of Knight’s husband William McDowell. Specifically, Hankerson cites his mother’s ongoing tour and other recent incidents that point to some troubling health developments as his reason for filing. A spokesperson for DHS in North Carolina couldn’t confirm or deny whether or not there was a pending investigation into Knight.
Speaking exclusively to The Shade Room, Hankerson alleged that McDowell is “manipulating people” into thinking Knight isn’t struggling when she’s getting on stage every night. He specifically referenced a show that transpired last summer when Knight allegedly zoned out and forgot to sing the lyrics along with her background singers.
Hankerson went on to claim that the legendary singer’s personality has also changed in the last few years from the more “angelic” persona we’ve all come to know to now a more aggressive one. He alleges that she now gets triggered by not knowing where she is or where her husband is.
“She’s being made to think that she needs to work and what that means is that he’s not going to be present with her,” Hankerson said.
He then revealed yet another sad incident that happened last year where Knight allegedly wandered away from the hotel they were supposed to be staying at and ended up at another one across town. Thankfully, one of the employees there recognized the icon and after noticing she allegedly couldn’t coherently answer any questions as to why she was there, got in contact with Knight’s daughter who ended up calling her mom’s longtime road manager Larry Ward.
“I’m extremely concerned about how she is being handled right now,” Hankerson later said, adding that since filing the complaint he’s been receiving “frantic” text messages from McDowell.
One of those texts questioned by Hankerson filed the complaint while another allegedly stated: “She’s happy and loved and all she wants is happiness and peace. Whatever we have and she has separately you guys can have when we’re gone. Our lives are not long, just let these years be in peace.”
McDowell later allegedly said via text: “I want to move forward, what I’m saying to you is that sending the cops and social service people over here will endanger what she’s trying to maintain. Anything other than that is irrelevant to me, just love her, take care of her, and whatever you guys want to do, just let me know. I’m happy to support it.”
McDowell also allegedly texted and told Hankerson that Knight has “Sundowner’s Syndrome,” where as a person ages, they get confused as the day goes into the night. Outside of that text however, Hankerson said that he and the rest of his family members have been kept out of the loop when it comes to Knight’s doctor’s visits and overall health.
Additionally, as for anybody who may feel that Hankerson was deliberately trying to sabotage his mother’s tour, he said he could care less about what people are saying and then sarcastically said that he was because didn’t want to continue seeing his mother in the state that she’s in.
“I don’t want my mom out on tour on a tour bus wondering where she’s at. I don’t want that for her,” Hankerson said.”That’s my mom, I truly love her. And don’t care about her ever working a second longer while she’s alive. The direction that she’s going in is pushing her to her departure and I don’t want to see that.”
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