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Legendary singer Gladys Knight is at the centre of a family dispute after her son, Shanga Ali Hankerson, accused her husband, William “Billy” McDowell, of elder abuse.
In an interview with The Shade Room, Hankerson claims McDowell is exploiting his 81-year-old mother, forcing her to keep touring despite signs of memory loss and confusion.
Gladys's son recalled seeing his mother forget lyrics on stage and even wander from a Baltimore hotel in a disoriented state. Staff recognised the star but said she couldn’t answer their basic questions.
McDowell, who is 14 years younger than Knight, allegedly keeps her family at a distance and rarely shares updates on her health, telling them only once that she had “sundown syndrome”.
The accusations now have social media fans in a frenzy, as some fans are on the fence about what to believe. Some fans are calling to “protect” Knight, while others are questioning Hankerson’s motives due to his past legal troubles.
Hankerson recently served time for tax charges and was once sued by his mother to remove her name from his restaurant.
Authorities in North Carolina have not confirmed if they’re investigating.
Knight, known for hits like Midnight Train to Georgia, has been married to McDowell for nearly 25 years and is still performing despite recent health scares.
Hankerson says he just wants her to stop touring and enjoy her later years in peace.