R&B Singer Keke Wyatt Denies ‘Extremely Serious’ Child Cruelty and Terroristic Threat Allegations After Arrest in Georgia

Charna FlamSat, September 26, 2026 at 4:21 PM UTC

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Keke Wyatt on March 14, 2025 in Austell, Georgia.Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty -

Keke Wyatt has reacted to reports that she was charged with cruelty to children, terroristic threat and aggravated assault following her arrest on Sept. 20

Representatives for the singer state that court documents show only a simple assault charge and have disputed reports of other charges

Wyatt previously faced legal issues, including a 2002 assault case involving her then-husband, which was later dismissed

Keke Wyatt has denied allegations that she received multiple charges, including terroristic threats and cruelty to children, following an arrest in Georgia.

The 44-year-old R&B singer, whose legal name is Ketara Wyatt Darring, was arrested and booked into the Henry County Jail on Sunday, Sept. 20. She was released on a $1,050 bond on Tuesday, Sept. 22, USA Today reported, citing the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.

Several news outlets, including CBS Atlanta and The Georgia Gazette, reported that Wyatt’s booking entry listed aggravated assault, terroristic threats and acts, and third-degree cruelty to children as a misdemeanor. The latter charge is levied when the primary aggressor either “intentionally allows” or has knowledge that a minor is “witnessing the commission of a forcible felony, battery, or family violence battery,” according to Georgia law.

However, hours after the musician’s arrest became public, her representatives denied the reported charges and alleged that Wyatt was only charged with simple assault.

Keke Wyatt on July 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty

The musician’s representatives clarified her charges in a statement on Wyatt’s Instagram page on Friday, Sept. 25.

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

“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,” the statement continued.

Wyatt is a mom of 11, including daughters Ke’Tarah Victoria Morton, 18, Mickayla Ford and Ke’Yoshi Bella Ford, 11; and sons Keyver Wyatt Morton, 26, Rahjah Ke’ Morton, 24, Ke’Mar Von Ford, 16, Wyatt Michael Ford, 14, Kendall Miguel Ford, 8, Ke’Riah David Darring, 6, and Ke’Zyah Jean Darring, 4.

Keke Wyatt’s Sept. 25, 2026 Instagram StoriesCredit: Keke Wyatt/instagram

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

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Her Instagram Stories also included a photo of a court document listing one charge as “Simple Assault.”

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The recent charges follow the assault charge she faced at the start of her career. In 2002, Wyatt was indicted on second-degree assault for stabbing her then-husband Rahmat Morton, who was also her manager, per USA Today. The case was ultimately dismissed.

Wyatt later said she acted in self-defense, telling Essence in 2012 that her “life was in danger.”

“It was a sad situation, and I wanted to protect my kids,” she said. “I felt so bad for what I did, but I couldn’t let it consume me.”

PEOPLE reached out to representatives for Wyatt, Henry County Jail and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office for comment.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”