Gladys Knight and her son Shanga Hankerson are at war over her name being used for his Atlanta restaurant. He claims she lacks the mental capacity to cancel the licensing deal. What? Deets inside….
Sometimes, family can act out worse than your enemy!
Singing legend Gladys Knight and her son Shanga Hankerson are at odds over the use of her name at his Atlanta restaurant. She wants him to remove her name, but he doesn’t want to. Why? Well, he claims she lacks the mental capacity to cancel the licensing deal. Sir!
We previously reported how Gladys wanted her name removed from his “Gladys Knight’s Chicken and Waffles” restaurants after he was accused of STEALING from the family business. Feds raided the restaurants and everything. Damn homie.
Back in June, Shanga was arrested on two counts of felony theft by taking $52,600 in sales tax collected in March and April, according to a Georgia Department of Revenue investigator. The AJC reported Shanga was accused of taking a total of $650,000 in state sales and withholding taxes, which after penalties and interest totals more than $1 million.
He was later released on $20,000 bond from the Clayton County jail.
According to the legal documents, the soul singer has no role in the business. She allowed her son to use her name under a licensing deal, but now she wants out after since the Department of Revenue accused Shanga of theft and tax evasion after federal agents raided three of his restaurants and shut down operations.
The mother and son had a 10-year licensing deal that ran out in 2009. Since then, they agreed on an oral licensing arrangement, but now the 72-year-old songstress wants no parts of the business.
After her son’s arrest, Gladys fired off a lawsuit “demanding damages for Hankerson's continued use of her name on the restaurant chain, as well as 'certain proprietary recipes and memorabilia, including Knight’s dresses/costumes and photographs featuring Knight and other celebrities.”
Shanga is denying any wrongdoing and confirms his mother HAS been paid and he wants the lawsuit thrown out.
Sheesh! This restaurant business is causing all type of legal battles between mothers and sons.
Photos: Getty/Facebook
