Gladys Knight‘s son has made surprising claims relating to the singer’s well being standing.
In an interview with The Shade Room, Shanga Hankerson and his ex-wife, Gloria, accused Knight’s husband, William McDowell, of “elder abuse” as his mom continues to tour regardless of alleged declining cognitive well being. Hankerson has reportedly filed a grievance with the North Carolina Division of Human Providers.
“I went and I hugged him and we hugged and he checked out me and he’s like ‘it’s so glad to see you.’ He mentioned, ‘Shanga, it’s been so arduous,’” recalled Hankerson of a reunion final yr with Knight’s longtime highway supervisor, Larry Ward. “I’ve by no means seen Larry break down and cry like that…I mentioned ‘Effectively what’s it, Larry?’ and he couldn’t put [it] into phrases.”
He continued to explain the efficiency on the aforementioned meetup. “The band performed about two or three further bars, and she or he zoned out. The background singers began singing, and that introduced her again. They’re having to rewind the teleprompters as a result of my mother is forgetting to have a look at them.”
Gladys Knight attends the Particular Benefit Awards Ceremony & 66th Annual GRAMMY Nominees Reception through the 66th GRAMMY Awards on February 03, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Anna Webber/Getty Photos for The Recording Academy
Hankerson added that his concern just isn’t solely about his mom’s on-stage presence and high quality of efficiency. He recalled that at his sentencing, “she got here to talk for me and she or he couldn’t type full sentences and coherent ideas,” after his 2021 responsible plea for failure to remit payroll taxes.
He additionally detailed alleged alarming textual content messages from McDowell, the place her husband claimed she had “Sundowner’s Syndrome,” in addition to incidents of Knight being confused or wandering away.
“I don’t need my mother out on tour on a tour bus questioning the place she’s at. I don’t need that for her,” Hankerson expressed. ”That’s my mother, I actually love her. And don’t care about her ever working a second longer whereas she’s alive. The path that she’s stepping into is pushing her to her departure, and I don’t wish to see that.”
Gladys Knight performs throughout Questlove’s “Summer season Of Soul” screening & reside live performance at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on June 19, 2021 in New York Metropolis.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Photos
Knight is about to embark on the second leg of “The Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage,” tour subsequent month with Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, and Stephanie Mills. The primary installment of the tour wrapped in June.
“I’m extraordinarily involved about how she is being dealt with proper now,” Hankerson remarked.
VIBE has contacted representatives for Gladys Knight for a press release on the accusations. Watch the total interview beneath.
