Kirk Franklin is still dealing with a complicated relationship with his mother, three years after learning the identity of his biological father.
The gospel star appeared on the September 17 episode of The Angie Martinez Show, where he opened up about his estranged relationship with his mother, Debra Jones, around the 23-minute mark of the video below. Franklin met his biological father, Richard Hubbard, in 2023, inspiring the title of his 13th studio album, Father’s Day, as well as the accompanying documentary. For years, Franklin believed Dwight Allen was his biological father and met him just weeks before Allen died in 2018. Franklin was legally adopted by his grand-aunt when he was 4 years old.
After discussing his difficult relationship with his mother, whom Franklin says only began acknowledging him after his music career took off, the gospel artist revealed that Jones still refuses to address the truth about his biological father.
“Even quite a few years ago, when I discovered my new dad, she still denied it,” Franklin told Martinez. “Two DNA tests,” he continued, adding, “All them 999s and she says, ‘That they ain’t your daddy.’”
“It’s very painful, and I haven’t seen her since,” he said. “Even the little documentary that I did…she walked out. But that’s consistent with my life experience with her, though.”
In a 2023 interview with People, Franklin revealed that his mother was “adamant” that Hubbard was not his father, even after the paternity results showed otherwise. The Christian vocalist also has a complicated relationship with his oldest son, Kerrion, who has accused him of child abuse. In 2021, leaked phone audio captured Franklin explicitly threatening his son. Franklin later denied the allegations of physical abuse and said the two were receiving counseling.
