Kirk Franklin Says Son Leaking Explicit-Filled Phone Conversation Caused The ‘Worst Years’ Of His Life

Gospel icon Kirk Franklin said his son releasing their private and explicit-filled phone argument traumatized him.

In March 2021, the world listened to the Grammy Award-winning artist engage in a heat phone conversation recorded by his 35-year-old son Kerrion Franklin.

“I will break your neck, motherf**ker, don’t you ever disrespect me,” Kirk yelled in the audio Kerrion leaked.

The 35-year-old revealed two profanity-laced audios with him and his father yelling and cursing at each other.

In an interview with Page Six, Kirk 

revealed that the audio caused the “worst years” of his life.

“it traumatizes me to this day,” Kirk explained. “It is very difficult, and my wife [Tammy] will tell you.”

He told the outlet that the heated exchange was the result of a family that had been broken for years.

“That tape was a reflection of years of what our family dynamic has been going through, just so you know,” the “Melodies From Heaven” singer said. “You don’t have that type of anger out there without there being a history of something.”

Following the audio release, Kirk published an apology video.

“For many years, we have had a toxic relationship with him as a family,” the “Revolution” singer-songwriter said. “We’ve tried for many years through counseling to therapy to try to rectify this private family matter.”

He continued, mentioning the audio, “I felt extremely disrespected in that conversation, and I lost my temper. I said words that are not appropriate. I am sincerely sorry to all of you. I sincerely apologize…I’m not perfect, I’m human and I’m going to make mistakes, and I’m trying to get it right. Please keep me and my family in your prayers. 

Kerrion was arrested last year by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for warrants. After his release, he took to Instagram, thanking his parents.

“#Shoutout My Mother & My Father & My Lighthouse @keetwit thank you for the prayers & the wind the most High is moving me in. The journey is not over yet one more case left to handle tho, freely here I am out of jail,” he wrote.