Kelly Rowland's Estranged Father Reaches Out To Daughter In Tabloids

by UInterviewOctober 25, 2013, 12:00 amNews >

Kelly Rowland’s estranged father, Charles Lovett has taken to the press for the second time in an effort to reach out to his daughter.

Lovett, 67, was a violent alcoholic throughout Rowland’s childhood and he left Rowland, 32, when she was seven years old – she has not seen him since.

“So many previous years have passed and I’m getting old… I just pray she comes back into my life before it’s too late,” Lovett told Star magazine.

Lovett reportedly verbally abused Rowland’s mother, Doris, and would frighten his young daughter.

“It wasn’t physical between me and Kelly’s mom, but there were many days and nights when Kelly would be bawling her eyes out, clutching my leg begging me, ‘Please daddy stop shouting at mommy.’ That image of her howling, begging me to stop will haunt me forever,” Lovett said

In 2011, Rowland responded publicly to her father’s attempts to reconnect with her through the tabloids, saying, “He reached out to me saying he wanted to see me, but it’s unfortunate he did it so publicly. I want to meet him, and soon, I really do,” Rowland told UK Cosmo.

She also stated that she wasn’t sure she felt ready to meet with her father:

“I do have a desire to speak to him. But I have to be ready when I make that decision, and I don’t want to hurry myself. I’ve been without him for more than 20 years.”

Two years later and the former Destiny’s Child member and current X Factor judge has yet to be reunited with her father.

“I haven’t [seen my father yet.] I don’t know what’s stopping me because I’ve had opportunities. But it really is time. I probably need to ask my therapist about it,” Rowland told Essence in September of 2013.

Lovett insists that his motives are pure, saying his one message to Rowland would be, “I love you with all my heart.”