Kehlani, the After Hours singer, is at the center of a heated custody battle filled with shocking allegations. Their ex, guitarist Javaughn Young-White, has filed for sole custody of their 5-year-old daughter, Adeya Nomi, alleging that Kehlani is involved in a “cult.” Young-White claims the cult leader, who allegedly has a history of s*xual assault accusations, convinced Kehlani that he is a danger to their child. The custody filing, obtained by People on August 5, sets off a storm of controversy.
According to Young-White, Adeya has been left in the care of “random strangers” from the cult, including the leader, who allegedly performed religious ceremonies on her. He also claims that the child sleeps in bed with cult members and has taken baths with a female member named “Messiah,” who was under the influence of psychedelic drugs. He further alleges that when attempting to pick up his daughter, he was “physically restrained and threatened by members of the ‘cult.’”
Young-White’s legal goal is to establish paternity since his name is not on Adeya’s birth certificate, which he claims was orchestrated by the alleged cult during a home birth. He is seeking full custody of the child and child support from Kehlani.
On August 6, Kehlani hit back, calling the accusations “incredibly hurtful, inaccurate, inappropriate, and simply untrue.” In a statement shared on Instagram, they wrote, “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.” Kehlani also denied aligning with any of the allegations against their “former religious community” and affirmed that their top priority has always been their child’s safety.
Kehlani, who has practiced Santeria, added, “My child and my commitment to motherhood have always been my sole driving forces in this life and will always remain so.” They emphasized that the situation is a “legal, private, familial matter” and refused to comment further while the case unfolds.
Young-White also addressed the public frenzy, criticizing TMZ for reporting that Kehlani was involved in a “s*x cult,” a claim he says is “factually incorrect” and “disgusting.” He demanded a formal retraction and apology from the outlet, stating that his filing had been misrepresented by his legal team, with whom he has since cut ties. He clarified that Kehlani’s involvement in Santeria was never part of his allegations and condemned the media for exploiting his child’s image.
The case continues to unravel amid Kehlani’s public drama, which has also stirred up controversy among their fan base. On August 4, Kehlani was seen in a selfie with controversial performer Brown, who had previously criticized them after their 2016 suicide attempt. Fans were quick to resurface Brown’s past comments, adding another layer of tension to an already explosive situation.
As the legal battle presses on, Kehlani announced that they’ll be taking time for their personal well-being and the well-being of their daughter. Despite the challenges, the singer is gearing up for their “Crash World Tour” in support of their latest album, Crash, which dropped on June 21. The tour kicks off on September 4 in Minneapolis.