Singer Keke Wyatt Breaks Silence After Arrest, Denies Alleged Child Cruelty, Terroristic Charges

R&B singer Keke Wyatt is speaking out after she was allegedly arrested on what multiple outlets have reported to be a number of charges, allegedly including suspicion of child cruelty and making terroristic threats, in Georgia.

“Contrary to information currently being circulated, the Henry County court documentation reflects one charge: simple assault,” a statement shared via her Instagram read on Friday, September 26. “It denied that she was charged with cruelty to children, terroristic threats and acts and aggravated assault.”

The statement released on behalf of the singer and mom of 11 children differs from reporting by CBS Atlanta and The Georgia Gazette that Wyatt, 46, faced significantly more serious criminal charges for aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and acts and third-degree cruelty to children as a misdemeanor. (Court records show that Wyatt paid a $1,050 bond to be released from Henry County Jail on Tuesday, September 22.)

Wyatt is a mom to 11 children — sons Keyver, 26, Rahjah, 24, Ke’Mar, 16, Wyatt, 14, Kendall, 8, Ke’Riah, 6, and Ke’Zyah, 4, as well as daughters Ke’Tarah, 18, and Ke’Yoshi, 11, stepdaughter Mickayla and an 11th child whose name was not been publicly revealed. She shares her three eldest children with ex-husband Rahmat Morton, four with ex Michael Jamar Ford and her youngest three with former spouse Zackariah Darring. (Wyatt suffered the loss of daughter Heaven, who was stillborn, in 2009.)

“We are particularly concerned by the circulation of allegations involving cruelty to children, as this is an extremely serious characterization and is not a charge reflected in the court documentation in this matter,” her team’s statement read.

Us has reached out to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office for clarification on Wyatt’s alleged charge.

Alongside her Instagram statement was a screenshot of an alleged booking sheet from the Henry County Jail, which appears to list a single charge of “simple assault unindicted.”

“We are not offering excuses or asking anyone to prejudge the circumstances surrounding the case,” her rep said. “We are simply asking that facts be reported responsibly and that inaccurate information-particularly information involving children— not continue to be repeated as fact. Keke will respect the judicial process and address the matter through the appropriate legal channels.”

Friday’s statement concluded with a message to promoters and “event partners” who have booked Wyatt for upcoming events, confirming that her “performance schedule remains unchanged.”

“She will continue to fulfill all confirmed and new contractual engagements and appearances as scheduled,” the statement clarified. “We sincerely appreciate your continued support and partnership.”

The “Nothing in This World” singer (legal name Ketara Wyatt Darring) exclusively told Us in November 2023 that it was “actually not hard at all” to be a mom to 11 children.

“If I have to go to the store, I’ll take one with me and that’s our time. Or if I’m going to the studio to record, I’ll take one, whoever’s asking to go. I just do it like that and I get my one-on-one time in,” she explained.

At the time, Wyatt was not ruling out the possibility of welcoming a 12th child to the family.

“I thought it was complete at 10 and here’s 11. So I don’t know. I can say yes and then look up and now we got 12. I don’t know, I’ll just say that,” she said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.