Gladys Knight's Son Shanga Hankerson Drops Concerning Claims About the Icon's Well-Being in a Bombshell Revelation – Details

The "Missing You" singer's son has accused her husband of elder abuse, alleging the soul legend is being overworked despite signs of a worsening cognitive condition.

Shanga Hankerson, son of music legend Gladys Knight, reportedly took legal action to protect her and filed a complaint with North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) against her husband of 25 years, William McDowell.

The allegations, first reported by The Shade Room (TSR) on August 13, 2025, claim McDowell is forcing the 81-year-old to keep touring despite her declining cognitive health and portraying her as unaffected.

Knight is scheduled to perform alongside Chaka Khan, Stephanie Mills, and Patti LaBelle in the next leg of her tour.

Hankerson told TSR that he intends to put an end to what he sees as the harmful treatment of his mother. "I'm extremely concerned about how she is being handled right now," he said.

He also explained how Knight's demeanor has shifted from "angelic" to "aggressive" in recent years, particularly when she becomes disoriented or cannot locate McDowell — moments he alleges her husband exploits.

"That's my biggest issue because he manipulates that to the fullest and not in a good way. She's being made to think that she needs to work, and what that means is that he's not going to be present with her," Hankerson added.

Hankerson also described an incident in which Knight left her hotel, ended up at another across town, and could not answer staff questions about her presence or who could be contacted.

He also claims McDowell later texted him, stating she has "Sundowner syndrome," a dementia-related condition that, according to the Alzheimer's Association, can cause confusion, agitation, and disorientation from late afternoon into night.

Hankerson further alleged in the TSR interview that McDowell sent him a series of text messages objecting to his decision to involve authorities.

In those messages, McDowell reportedly accused him of disrupting a planned family gathering and jeopardizing the time Knight could spend with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Knight's husband allegedly told Hankerson he was welcome to visit her at any time but maintained that she was content and well cared for.

McDowell also cautioned that bringing in police or social service agencies could undermine her stability and the peaceful environment she was trying to maintain, urging him to prioritize her comfort over outside intervention.

While Hankerson has raised these concerns, Knight spoke positively about her marriage in a 2022 Closer Weekly interview, saying she and McDowell credited their lasting relationship to shared faith.

"You have to always know that the Lord is going to make a way. We put him first. If you've got a problem and don't know how to do something, you have to look up. That's how we get through," she shared.

In 2019, she marked their anniversary on Instagram, writing, "My life is so much better with you in it. 'You're the best thing that ever happened to me.' Happy Anniversary babe! ❤️😘"

Hankerson’s allegations preceded a separate health incident in March 2025, when Knight was hospitalized shortly before a scheduled performance. She later returned home to recover, with the seven-time Grammy winner leaning on her husband during that time.

A newly released image obtained by TMZ captured the emotional moment between Knight and McDowell. The photo showed the singer embracing McDowell, with her face resting against his chest in a tender display of affection and relief.

Knight's hospitalization came after she became suddenly ill just moments before taking the stage at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville on March 8. The unexpected turn of events forced the cancellation of her performance, leaving fans in shock.

Florida Theatre President Numa Saisselin issued a statement that evening, explaining the situation to concertgoers.

"Tonight's performance by Gladys Knight was canceled due to illness. Ms. Knight and another member of her staff were taken ill backstage, very suddenly and at the last minute, which necessitated the sudden cancellation of the show," Saisselin said.

Emergency responders from Jacksonville Fire Rescue attended to the singer, and despite the abrupt nature of the incident, Knight remained in good spirits as she left the venue.

"We hope to reschedule the show, but it's too early to know about that. It is, after all, Saturday night. We should know more early next week," Saisselin stated.

He also reassured ticket holders that their purchases would remain valid if a new date was set.

"The Florida Theatre will always take care of you! But as I said, it's too soon to know any details for sure. We will be in touch early next week as soon as we have been able to talk to everyone we need to talk with to formulate a new plan," he added.

Despite the disappointment, Saisselin expressed gratitude to concertgoers for making the effort to attend, acknowledging the difficult traffic conditions in Jacksonville that night. He concluded his statement by urging fans to keep Knight in their thoughts.

While many expressed relief over Knight's recovery, some social media followers were surprised by McDowell's youthful appearance.

On Instagram, one person wrote, "Husband 😮… I thought that was her son 🧐 Sheesh 😮‍💨 Get well soon Queen 🙏🏾 [sic]."

Another questioned, "How old is that husband? 🤔" while a different netizen stated, "I don't think that's her husband." Someone else commented, "Husband looks young [sic]..."

Similar reactions appeared on Facebook. One commenter noted, "husband looks more like son [sic]," while another asked, "Is that her grandson?" However, one person shared a more supportive message as they wrote, "I'm so glad she has him."

On X, fans kept their reactions brief and positive. One person wrote, "that's amazing [sic]," while another encouraged, "Get some rest, sweet lady."

Following her hospitalization, Knight's representative confirmed to TMZ that she was treated in Florida and released overnight. She then returned to her home in North Carolina to recover.

On March 9, the singer personally addressed her health in an Instagram post, reassuring fans about her condition. "Hi my loves! I have that flu that is going around and am already feeling better. I'll see everyone real soon and appreciate the good wishes.💜💜💜," she wrote.

Her husband, McDowell, also took to Instagram on March 12, sharing a message of gratitude. "Thank you for your prayers my wife is home safe❤️," he penned. He also reshared the reunion photo posted by TMZ.

Once back home, Glady Knight focused on resting and recovering with William McDowell beside her. Fans continued to send their support as she healed, hopeful for her return to the stage.