MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Kamala Harris: Nina Simone's granddaughter accuses VP of giving singer's estate to 'white people'

'We get NO royalties, nothing. Wanna hold someone accountable? Ask Kamala Harris why she came for my family,' ReAnna Simone Kelly said

Nina Simone's granddaughter, ReAnna Simone Kelly, has slammed Vice President Kamala Harris in a series of tweets. She accused the 56-year-old of taking away her grandmum’s estate from her family while serving as the attorney general of California. On Friday, June 18, ReAnna tweeted, “Nina’s granddaughter here. My family doesn’t run her estate anymore. It was taken away from us & given to white people. Our family name was DRAGGED in the media. We get NO royalties, nothing. Wanna hold someone accountable? Ask Kamala Harris why she came for my family #NinaSimone.”

According to reports, after the legendary singer died in 2003, her daughter Lisa Simone Kelly was given the responsibility to handle both her estate and a charitable trust. It has been said the trust was founded for the musical education of black African children. But in 2013, court records reviewed by The Daily Beast stated that Lisa had breached “her fiduciary duty” to both the estate and trust. She was accused of draining up to $2 million from its coffers along with a $1.5 million deposit into her personal company.

READ MORE

Chloe Bailey twerks to Nina Simone's 'Feeling Good', slammed for 'poor choice'

Bon Jovi, Nina Simone enter Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

At the time, the case was supervised by Harris who found Lisa guilty. She reportedly wanted to surcharge her nearly $6 million as well as over $2.5 million in interest. However, later the two parties reached an agreement, under which, Lisa was removed from the post of the estate administrator. She also had to renounce her rights to her mother’s works. But it seems ReAnna has still not accepted it as she recently blasted Harris.

She continued, “As I said before, Ask her [Harris] why she separated my family. Ask her why my grandmothers estate is in SHAMBLES now. Ask her why we as her family no longer own the rights to anything. Ask her why she bullied my mother in court and my mom almost killed herself from the depression.” ReAnna went on to write, “My grandmother created something beautiful with her life while she was here on this earth, even through all her pain. I am SO PROUD of her legacy!! I am so proud to be her grandchild. But I feel separated from my legacy. As if it isn’t even mine. Let me explain,” before adding: “My grandmother is influencing the masses (as she should!!). I see her on billboards. I see artists covering her music. It breaks my heart to know that white people are making money off of grandmas hard work and that we have had all of our rights as her family STRIPPED from us!!”

ReAnna also mentioned that John Legend performed a cover of her grandmother during President Joe Biden and Harris’ inauguration on January 20. She noted, “While we're asking Kamala questions ask her why after all of this pain and suffering she put us through a Nina Simone song was sang at the inauguration to swear her in as VP?! She knew what she was doing.”

Twitter users also jumped into a discussion after ReAnna’s blasting tweets. One user said, “Thank you for speaking your truth, and to anyone trying to shame you, they are just wrong. Especially the person that said "you should be ashamed of this whole thread". You deserve your grandmother's legacy, and she would have wanted it that way I am certain.” The second user wrote, “Anyone trying to speak on that in a disparaging way, especially someone who doesn't know y'all personally, or never knew your grandmother in particular, is just wrong.” “Hey my angel face ❤ I love you and have your back ❤ We know the truth and will always support the Simone family name,” the third added.