Gladys Knight breaks silence after son accuses her younger husband of elder abuse

Soul legend Gladys Knight has spoken out after her son publicly accused her husband of elder abuse.

The “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer, 81, assured fans she’s “healthy and happy” after her son Shanga Hankerson claimed that Knight’s husband William McDowell — who is 33 years her junior — has been mentally and financially taking advantage of her.

“I don’t want my mom out on tour on a tour bus wondering where she’s at,” Hankerson told the Shade Room, saying his mother’s tour schedule — which is set to resume in September — is “detrimental” to her health.

Gladys Knight performs during the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Soul legend Gladys Knight spoke out after her son publicly accused her husband of elder abuse. WireImage

Knight has since responded to her son’s claims, telling The Post in a statement that her “health and performances have been misrepresented.”

“I want my fans and those concerned to rest assured I am doing very well for someone who has been onstage for three quarters of a century, hard to believe, right?” she said.

“I’m healthy and happy and visiting friends and family these last few months. I’m excited to get back on the road with my sisters and onstage with the Queens tour. See you soon.”

Following his allegations, Hankerson said he has filed a complaint with North Carolina’s Department of Human Services.

The department told The Post that complaints are confidential, and it “does not comment on investigations or possible investigations.”

Gladys Knight's son, Shanga Hankerson.

Shanga Hankerson said his mother’s tour schedule is “detrimental” to her health. Shanga Hankerson / Facebook

Gladys Knight and William McDowell attend the Soul Train Awards 2013 at the Orleans Arena on November 8, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The singer’s son claimed that Knight’s husband has been mentally and financially taking advantage of her. Getty Images for BET

During an appearance on “Good Morning America” last week, McDowell, 48, said he will not be weighing in on the discourse after Hankerson claimed that his mother is touring at her husband’s insistence.

While he admitted that his mother has never expressed a desire to quit performing, Hankerson alleged that his mother is currently “on cruise control.”

“I did my best to give [McDowell] the space to play the role of husband and do what was in my mom’s best interest, and he has not done that,” he told People.

“Why is she working? Why is she in this situation where she’s being made to believe that she has to work like this? That’s really my issue with it.”

Gladys Knight's son, Shanga Hankerson.

“I don’t want my mom out on tour on a tour bus wondering where she’s at,” Hankerson said. Shanga Hankerson / Facebook

Gladys Knight with her son Shanga Hankerson in 1983.

Hankerson said he has filed a complaint with North Carolina’s Department of Human Services. Getty Images

The 49-year-old also claimed that his famous mother had struggled with her memory in recent years.

In response, reps for Knight told The Post that her team is “greatly saddened by Shanga’s unfounded allegations,” adding that he allegedly “has had no substantial contact with her.”

“She has not been on tour since June 1 and can’t wait to begin touring again in September,” said Knight’s publicist, Laura Herlovich. “At this time our lawyers have no choice but to explore any and all legal remedies due to Shanga’s defamatory comments.”

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Hankerson slammed the statement as “inaccurate” — saying he has been “purposefully kept in a position of having minimal access” to the “Missing You” hitmaker.

“This has nothing to do with money for me,” he said. “I’m trying to get her to stop working.”

Knight married McDowell in 2001. She was previously married to James Newman from 1960 to 1973. The exes have son James III and daughter Kenya.

Gladys Knight and William McDowell attends Tyler Perry Studios grand opening gala at Tyler Perry Studios on October 05, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The “Midnight Train to Georgia” singer wed McDowell in 2001. Getty Images for Tyler Perry Studios

The singer married Hankerson’s father, record producer Barry Hankerson, in 1974. They parted ways five years later.

In 1995, she wed former Ohio state Rep. Les Brown, though the union crumbled in 1997.

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