The ex-partner of Grammy-nominated R&B star Kehlani has reportedly filed for full custody of their five-year-old daughter, Adeya, alleging that the singer is part of a “cult” that is putting their child at risk.
Javaughn Young-White, an internet personality and brother to stand-up comedian, actor and Daily Show reporter Jaboukie Young-White, dated the musician between 2018 to 2019.
According to court documents seen by US media, Young-White alleged that the “Distraction” singer, 29, “has been involved in this cult for the past few years” and that it “controls [Kehlani’s] actions and [their] behaviour, including when it comes to the upbringing of our daughter.”
“For example, the cult leader, who goes by the name of Neto, convinced [Kehlani] that he had a vision that I was a danger to our daughter and would kill her, and therefore banned [Kehlani] from allowing me to see Adeya,” the filing apparently reads.
“Based on this ‘vision’ by her cult leader, [Kehlani] prevented me from seeing our daughter for months.”
Young-White also alleged that his name is not listed as the father on their daughter’s birth certificate because Kehlani – full name Kehlani Ashley Parrish – gave birth “through a home birth orchestrated by what I would describe as a cult”.
“For the past five years, I have requested a copy of Adeya’s birth certificate and for my name to be added to her birth certificate to no avail,” the documents state.
Young-White apparently expressed concern that the alleged leader of the “cult” performs “religious ceremonies” on Adeya in a closed room while unsupervised.
“When I discovered this on her birthday in 2023, I was physically restrained and threatened by members of the ‘cult’ when I attempted to retrieve our daughter,” he claimed.
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He alleged that Kehlani, who goes by she/they pronouns, leaves their daughter in the care of the group and that Adeya sleeps in a bed with and is given baths by “fellow cult members”.
He is seeking full custody and child support due to the “huge difference in his and his ex-partner’s respective incomes,Page Six reports.
In a statement shared on Tuesday (6 August), Kehlani condemned the media’s description of their ex-partner’s petition for custody, describing reports as “incredibly hurtful, inaccurate, inappropriate, and simply untrue”.
“I’ve always taken great care to ensure that my child remains protected and safe,” she said. “I strongly deny any claims that I have put my child in harm’s way, or left my child alone with anyone deemed dangerous or unsafe. I also do not align with any of the allegations made against my former religious community that have been stated in the media.”
Young-White also hit out at what he called a “factually incorrect” version of his custody request apparently published by TMZ, claiming it contained “sensationalised aspects of what was said”.
He added that the filing was “incomplete” and did not have his “authorisation by error of counsel”, Rolling Stone reports.
Young-White said that he is no longer represented by the “aforementioned counsel” and that there “will be an amended filing soon which will illustrate the full range of my concern”.
Kehlani ended her statement by saying she would be “taking space” for her and Adeya’s well-being and would handle the matter privately. “Thank you for your support and for respecting our privacy,” she wrote. “I will not be commenting further and will let the legal due process take place.”
