FORT WORTH, Texas — Kerrion Rashad Franklin, the eldest son of Grammy-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin, has been arrested in Fort Worth, Texas, on an unlawful restraint charge, according to Tarrant County booking information.
Booking records list Kerrion Franklin in connection with an unlawful restraint charge following his arrest by the Fort Worth Police Department. The record identifies his booking number as T1083645 and lists a $1,500 bond.
Franklin, 38, is an artist and reality television personality who has appeared on the Zeus Network series Bad Boys: Los Angeles and Bad Boys: Texas. He is Kirk Franklin’s oldest child, born when the gospel singer was 17.
Details surrounding the incident that led to the latest charge remain limited. The publicly available booking information reviewed for this report identifies the charge but does not provide a narrative describing what police allege happened or identifying another person involved.
Under Texas law, unlawful restraint generally involves intentionally or knowingly restricting another person’s movements without that person’s consent. The circumstances of an individual case can affect the seriousness of the offense.
The arrest marks another legal issue for the younger Franklin. In April 2022, he was arrested in California following a traffic stop and held without bond at the time. Contemporary reports said Franklin maintained that he had been wrongfully arrested.
Kerrion and his father have also publicly discussed difficulties in their relationship. Their family dispute gained widespread attention in 2021 after Kerrion released audio from a heated telephone conversation with his father. Kirk Franklin subsequently apologized publicly for his language during the exchange. The two later reconciled during the making of Kirk Franklin’s 2023 Father’s Day documentary.
More recently, Kerrion has spoken publicly about rebuilding his relationship with his father and developing his own career. Kirk Franklin has likewise said he is proud of his son’s progress while acknowledging that some aspects of Kerrion’s life are his own to discuss.
As of the available booking information, the new case is an allegation, not a conviction. Franklin is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Additional details, including the allegations underlying the unlawful restraint charge and future court proceedings, may become available as the case progresses.
