‘I will put my foot in your a**!’ Gospel legend Kirk Franklin unloads on estranged son in profanity-laced phone call for ‘disrespecting him’ – and then issues groveling apology …

Legendary choir director and gospel singer Kirk Franklin’s estranged son released audio of his father berating and threatening him over the phone. 

Kerrion Franklin, 32, recorded a heated argument with his father Kirk – a 16-time Grammy winner – and posted the 45-second clip on Instagram on Saturday. 

‘I’ll put my foot in your a**,’  a voice identified as Kirk’s is heard saying. ‘I will break your neck ni***, don’t you ever disrespect me.’  

The video quickly went viral, racking up more than 265,000 views as of Sunday morning. 

Kirk, 51, addressed the family drama in his own Instagram video, where he apologized for ‘losing his temper’ and explained that he’s been having issues with his eldest son ‘for many years’. 

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Legendary choir director and gospel singer Kirk Franklin’s estranged son Kerrion left released audio of his father (right) berating and threatening him over the phone

Kirk and Kerrion are pictured together at the 1999 Essence Awards in New York City 

It’s unclear what sparked the row heard in Kerrion’s original video, which he said was ‘recent’. 

Kerrion has used social media to attack his father in the past, Media Take Out reported, citing a video from two years ago in which he alleged that Kirk ‘abused’ and ‘tried to kill’ him. 

In the caption of Saturday’s video Kerrion wrote: ‘This is why I’m done. No father should speak to their children like this. If I have any issues it’s because Of this type of treatment that ii deal with behind closed doors. Hanging up in my face, No apology, no compassion, no effort. 

‘Stop telling me to go home to my family I don’t even know where they live. I don’t think I’ll ever trust my father to be alone around him ever again. I didn’t want to do this. 

‘I probably won’t release the entire recording because it’s too embarrassing that Im even dealing with this. No matter what ppl think I pray my dad deals with his deep hatred toward me. I don’t feel safe around him at all. 

‘This recording is recent it is not from 2018 just to clarify. Im going to learn from these experiences, live my life in peace and make beautiful art. [sic].’ 

In a separate Instagram post shared four days earlier, Kerrion wrote: ‘I’m not allowed to have any childhood pictures of myself or my family. Some of the s**t ii see yaw complain about is so surface. I’ve been through the fire [sic].’

Kerrion (left and right) has reportedly used social media to attack his father in the past, including about two years ago when he alleged that Kirk ‘abused’ and ‘tried to kill’ him

In an Instagram post shared four days before the video, Kerrion wrote: ‘I’m not allowed to have any childhood pictures of myself or my family. Some of the s**t ii see yaw complain about is so surface. I’ve been through the fire [sic]’

Kirk took to Instagram late Sunday night to clear the air about the phone call.  

‘For many years we have had a toxic relationship with him as a family,’ Kirk said of Kerrion. ‘We’ve tried for many years through counseling, through therapy, to try to rectify this private family matter. 

‘Recently, my son and I had an argument that he chose to record. I felt extremely disrespected in that conversation and I lost my temper. I said words that are not appropriate. And I am sincerely sorry to all of you. I sincerely apologize.’

Kirk said that he had called a family therapist during the conversation, but that Kerrion didn’t include that bit in his video.  

‘I’m not perfect, I’m human and I make mistakes. I’m trying to get right,’ Kirk concluded. ‘Please keep me and my family in your prayers.’ 

Kirk took to Instagram late Sunday night to clear the air about the phone call. ‘For many years we have had a toxic relationship with him as a family,’ Kirk said of Kerrion. ‘We’ve tried for many years through counseling, through therapy, to try to rectify this private family matter’

Fans flooded the comment section of Kirk’s video with supportive remarks. 

‘No apologies needed at all, prayers for your family,’ one woman wrote. 

‘You owe no apology to the public. Praying for family healing out of the public eye.’ 

Commenters also shared support for Kirk on Kerrion’s original video, saying that it lacked context and that the father may have had a reason to get frustrated. 

But some critics spoke out against the singer, saying it’s inappropriate to talk to your child in that manner regardless of the context.  

One user wrote: ‘Sounds like a parent who’s ready to go to jail if they’re grown child tries it on one hand.

‘On another hand this can be traumatizing and emotionally abusive behavior. This man feels rejected and dropped by his parents and family.’ 

Fans flooded the comment section of Kirk’s video with supportive remarks

Kirk, a Texas native, was dubbed the ‘Reigning King of Urban Gospel’ by Variety after successfully leading numerous gospel choirs since the early 90s, including The Family, One Nation Crew and God’s Property. 

His 2002 solo album The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin went Platinum and topped the Gospel Albums chart for 29 weeks. 

Kirk went on to release five more solo albums that crashed into top ten lists in the gospel genre. His most recent album, Long Live Love (2019), earned him two Grammys.  

Kirk married his wife Tammy Collins in 1996, eight years after Kerrion was born out of a previous relationship. Kirk adopted Collins’ daughter Carrington, who is one year younger than Kerrion, and the couple have two other children together – a daughter, Kennedy, and son, Caziah.  

It is unclear what led to Kerrion’s rift from the family. 

Kirk is pictured with his family at the Grammy’s in January 2020. From left: Son Caziah, daughter Kennedy, Kirk, wife Tammy Collins, daughter Carrington Frankin and son-in-law Maxx Nakwaasah

Kirk accepts the Best Gospel Song award for ‘Love Theory’ at the Grammy’s last year

Kirk, a Texas native, was dubbed the ‘Reigning King of Urban Gospel’ by Variety after successfully leading numerous gospel choirs since the early 90s, including The Family, One Nation Crew and God’s Property. He is pictured performing at the Grammy’s in 2020