Comedian Katt Williams says parents beat him for seven years over Bible questions
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The gist
Comedian Katt Williams said on a podcast his parents beat him for seven years, ages 5 to 12.
He says he has forgiven them, and his memoir also details the abuse.
Background
Katt Williams is a stand-up comedian and actor, described as an Emmy winner by his publisher, and author of the memoir Nine Lives, No Wives, and 69 Concubines. He appeared on Steven Bartlett's podcast "The Diary Of A CEO" and described severe physical abuse by his parents, who he said followed the "spare the rod, spoil the child" approach to discipline. He said questioning the Bible and challenging his parents' religious beliefs contributed to the punishments, and that he left home at 13. The memoir, released Oct. 20, 2026, with a foreword by Shaquille O'Neal, previously detailed the abuse.
How it unfolded
- Oct 20, 2026Williams' memoir Nine Lives, No Wives, and 69 Concubines is released; it covers his path from homelessness to comedy stardom after leaving his devout Jehovah's Witness parents at 13.
- Nov 9, 2026On "The Diary Of A CEO," Williams says he was tied to a pole in the basement and beaten with an extension cord, a water hose and eventually a two-by-four, and that the beatings lasted seven years, from ages 5 to 12.
- Nov 9, 2026Williams says questioning the Bible contributed to the punishments, that he has forgiven all involved, and that he studied 300 working comedians and self-financed his specials.
Key terms
- Jehovah's Witness
- A nontrinitarian, millenarian Christian denomination that grew out of the Bible Student movement founded by Charles Taze Russell.
- Emmy
- An American award honoring outstanding achievement in the television industry, comparable to the Oscars for film.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Caution
- A ModernGhana columnist cautions that a memoir is one person's account of his own life and that some details in it have already been disputed in the press.
Still unverified
A ModernGhana columnist notes that some details in Williams' memoir have already been disputed in the press, without specifying which.