Keyshia Cole is breaking her silence about her estranged relationship with her family members, who have become 'hood celebrities since being introduced to the public via their top-rated BET reality TV show, 'The Way It Is.'
In a statement obtained by BV Newswire, the platinum-selling R&B singer set the record straight, essentially saying that her outspoken family members – including mother Frankie Lons, sister Nefferteria Pugh and other sister Elite (last name unknown) – are not authorized to speak about details of her life, because they don't know any.
"It's time that I clear the air," Cole stated. "It's not a secret that I haven't been in contact with my mother Frankie, and my sisters, Neffe and Elite, and I never wanted to air out our differences to the public. While I won't go into detail here, I find it necessary to let you guys know I decided to stop communication with them because I was at a point in my life where I needed serenity and peace to move forward.""Please know I love my family very much, but it was time to let it go," she said. "You guys are a witness to a lot of what was happening from watching on air and online."
She continued: "Now that I am becoming a mom, my passion for having a loving and peaceful home for my child is my number one priority. It's very important to both Daniel [Gibson] and I. My plate is very full; I have a new baby coming, we are planning our wedding and I am working in the studio on a new album that I am close to completing."
"The stress that my family is giving me with their constant false reports is not healthy and it's not what I need at this time in my life," she added.
Earlier this week, several media gossip outlets reported that Gibson, a professional basketball player, and Cole are engaged.
The next day, Lons, known as a real live wire among black celebrity bloggers and radio outlets, was interviewed on an Atlanta radio station and confirmed that her daughter was indeed married to Gibson
"Please understand that there are only a few people that can officially confirm or deny anything that's happening in my life, and that's me, Daniel, and my publicist, Tresa Sanders," Cole stated, then added, "And my girl Monica [the singer, who also has a popular BET reality show] never lies."
With two seasons of 'The Way It Is' breaking ratings records for BET, the network created a spinoff vehicle, 'Frankie & Neffe,' which propelled Cole's family members and all for their dysfunction into the limelight.
A rep for Lons could not be reached by deadline today.
Cole's first child is due in March.
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Comments: (76)
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By: Discovery on 1/08/2010 7:55PM
Keyshia used Franke and Neffe on that show to get attention for her career purposes and now that she has overcome, she is embarrassed by them. She is nothing but them with a record deal. She is same baby mama with a random baby daddy trying to act new. Tsk!Tsk!Tsk! Keyshia, you may find that people were only interested in you because of them. Those cd sales dropping may be the proof in the pudding. SMDH!
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By: Sheryl on 1/09/2010 6:20PM
I think when they came together to do this project, Keyshia was more concerned w/ bringing the family together. In that aspect maybe she did use them, but they MORE than benefited from her success. Her sister and mother gained homes, travel experiences, money, recognition (good or bad) all from her, so in essence they 'racked' up. I like Keyshia, but let's face it, she has never been a "super star" because she was more concerned w/ trying to take care of everyone, and that is just not possible. She should have taken a lesson from MC Hammer.."You can't help everyone". Now if she were really using them, she would be dogging them every chance she gets....she simply is saying, 'I can't continue to go this way' and she has distanced herself from the drama in order to create a stable environment for her unborn child. THAT is called growing up.
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By: Aljorie on 1/11/2010 5:48PM
Excuse me but please spare me the self righteous, tsk tsk tip. I am quite sure if Neffie and Frankie were your relatives I can guarantee you that you too would have a level of embarassment by them. Furthermore, you idiotic commentator Keyhsia has gone above and beyond her way to help both her mother and sisters in ways they were very blessed to have been helped.
Sometimes when relatives can get to be that much of a pain in your *** and be nothing but a source of drama and conflict that you don't need in your life in the words of her own damn song you need to just "Let it Go" and move forward without them. That doesn't mean she doesn't love them but sorry she can't have family like that be getting her to go as crazy, ignorant as they are. Furthermore financially she can't go bankrupt helping their asses out either they gotta do for self!! As a matter of fact in one of the seasons of her show an accountant in a nutshell advised her as such!
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By: arlington1957 on 1/12/2010 8:41AM
She is on something in court. Guessing Psychotropic mood enhancing prescription drugs.
She looks 70 wearing a wig.
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By: kisses on 1/08/2010 9:57PM
She should had not brouht her family to the damn limelight, she knew how they got down, bitch please.
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By: D on 1/08/2010 10:28PM
Yes, she did use her family to advance her career. However, they benifitted just like she did. The whole family is a Disgrace! I hope the counseling they received will help her teach her to provide a better environment for her child than the one she grew up in! Disfunctional to say the least!
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By: nikki on 1/12/2010 1:38AM
What Keisha tried to do was help her family and yea they were on the show and had ever chance to handle their business.. I'm from Oakland and to be able to get out of the ghetto and get in the lime light and find something you good at.That should have been the families focus..Neffie having kid after kid,moms acting a damn fool eveywhere she goes..enough is enough. It was time for them to grow and that didn't happen.. Keisha has her own life and you can only help people who want to helped..
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By: AJ on 1/12/2010 12:09PM
that is so true..I dont beleive for one minute she tried exploting her family...she was trying to help their ghetto butts...the didnt pick it up and got left behind...you cant save the world..Frankie should be ashamed of her self and had enough sence to get her self together as a grandmother...Neffie seems to be on the right track but needs to better for all her kids
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By: Marvice on 1/09/2010 5:46AM
She didn't use her family, she couldn't have did anything that they didn't let or agree for her to do. There is nothing wrong with making money. Why should Keyshia be blamed for trying to share and help her family be able to afford and live a better life. Unfortunately, she found out the hard way, that you have to leave sleeping dogs where they lay. To be where they were and for her to help make a way for them to be better off is admirable. Had I been Keyshia and feeling the way I feel, I would have never looked them up and would have denied any rumor that they were related to me period!
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By: Brenda Cook on 1/09/2010 9:09AM
I believe that Keyshia Cole truly loves her family and has proven this by risking her own career and livelyhood to make sure her friends and family would be taken care of financially. Every thing has a season and for Keyshia, the drama has run its course. I fully support this talented young woman and feel strongly that she and Daniel will be wonderful, loving parents. Most importantly, its has often been said that, "you teach people how to treat you." By the time the baby arrives, Frankie and Neffe will get the message and at least learn to respect Keyshia and her hubby in order to remain a vital part of her life. It is obvious that she needs them as much as they need her, so they will make amends and find peace with each other.
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