BeBe Winans has been cleared of all charges related to allegations of domestic assault against his former wife, Debra. According to an official statement I’ve just received from BeBe’s camp, the case was dismissed on Friday, December 4th, and is now closed.
The text of his official statement is below:
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BEBE WINANS EXONERATED OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES
(Dateline: December 7, 2009; Nashville, TN; Source: W&W Public Relations, Inc.)
Gospel singer BeBe Winans has been exonerated of all charges of allegations that he assaulted his ex‐wife Debra Winans. Judge Gloria Dumas of the General Sessions Court for Metropolitan Nashville‐Davidson County signed an order on Friday, December 4, 2009, dismissing all charges with prejudice. With this order, this domestic matter is over and cannot be reopened.
“This has been a trying year, beginning with the death of my father, “ says Winans. “Even though this allegation has affected not just me, but also the entire Winans family, my children and certain aspects of my career, I chose to stay quiet because I knew the truth. To be exonerated of all charges shows the power of trusting in God, and is a wonderful Christmas gift for me and my children.”
On February 13, 2009, the Grammy Award winning singer was accused of allegedly shoving his ex‐wife to the ground during an argument. Court filings stated that the alleged altercation was based on custody issues dealing with their two children. Winans was arrested on March 11, 2009 on a misdemeanor domestic assault charge and was briefly held at the Davidson County jail before posting $1000 bond.
During the media frenzy, Winans maintained his innocence all along, choosing to take the high road, never responding to his ex‐wife and allowing justice to prevail. The allegations, however, have stirred up a fire inside Winans to begin a persistent effort to fight for the father or the man who may be going through the same struggle. “This situation has made me a changed man,” says Winans. “But it has also helped me see that there needs to be legislation that protects the rights of fathers when it comes to the custody of their children. All men are not deadbeat Dads, all men are not abusing women. And it’s unfortunate that the legal system and society assume the worst before they hear the truth. My children are my first priority and I want and need to become the voice for the men around the world who are doing the RIGHT thing!”
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The exoneration comes after a swirl of allegations by his former wife, most recently in a one-on-one interview with Lexi, which aired this weekend on The Word Network (see trailer here).
The case exploded into mainstream media last month when Oprah Winfrey removed BeBe Winans from his role as host of her “Karaoke Challenge” segments, following criticism and pressure she faced for not abiding by her generally strict stance against domestic violence.
Despite the allegations and attendant scrutiny, BeBe Winans has remained at #1 on Billboard’s gospel music charts with his latest release, Still– the long-awaited reunion project with his sister, CeCe Winans.
My thoughts– glad it’s over. Hopefully, as the court has dismissed the case, WE will too.
Let’s keep praying for him, his ex-wife and, especially, their children, who’ve had the unfortunate privilege of watching as people (yes, even Christians) weigh-in to villainize their parents. God wants wholeness for this situation and we should earnestly seek it on behalf of each of them.
