Kelly Rowland is ready to forgive her estranged father, and wants to meet him this Christmas.
The ootivation singer has not met her father, Christopher Lovett, since she was a seven, after her mother walked out on him when he turned to drink after losing his job, but now she thinks it is important to “forgive” him.
Speaking on the UK version of The X Factor, Kelly says: “It’s really important just to forgive my father. I want to meet him this Christmas, because now is the time, because tomorrow’s not promised to us.”
“I think it’s important to forgive people and we move on, we have to. The pain is there, of course it will be there, and it’s important to know that forgiveness is the first step towards healing it all.”
Christopher (65), reached out to Kelly earlier this year, asking for forgiveness and saying he wanted to be a father to the ex-Destiny’s Child singer and X Factor judge.
Giving his account of what happened, he said: “Kelly, I love you with all my heart. Please forgive me and let me be your dad again.
“I lost my job at a transportation company, sank into a depression about money and began drinking more and more. The failure to provide for my family fuelled an anger that I will be ashamed of until my dying day. 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.”
“I really hoped I would get to make it up to her. Sadly I am still waiting for that day. But I can’t give up hope.”
Kelly was happy to hear from her father after so long, but wishes he had been more discreet in trying to contact her.
She said: “He reached out to me, saying he wanted to see me but it’s unfortunate he did it so publicly.”
Kelly is a mentor to the girls on The X Factor, and will be seen talking to oisha B, who has suffered similar emotional problems after being abandoned by her mother as a baby.
