Soul Legend Gladys Knight Is Placing A Lawsuit On Son To Remove Her Name From Their Famous Chicken And Waffles Franchise

A Soul Legend Gladys Knight Is Placing A Lawsuit On Son
To Remove Her Name From Their Famous Chicken And Waffles Franchise 

BHR Hollywood Reports.........Soul music legend Gladys Knight is asking a judge to remove her name and likeness from her son’s troubled chicken and waffle restaurants, saying their flagging fortunes are hurting her reputation.

Knight, 72, wants her son, Shanga Hankerson, to remove her name from the chicken and waffles franchise.

Gladys And Shanga 

Hankerson, who currently manages the three Georgia restaurants, faced felony charges back in June over unpaid taxes and fees totaling over $1 million.

The Empress of Soul now wants nothing to do with the family business, which she co-signed in 1999, and wants her name axed from signs and promotions for the restaurant.

Gladys Knight 

Knight had considered ending the agreement that let Hankerson use her name as early as 2009 for “what she perceived as mismanagement of the Restaurants,” but only decided to move forward this year, according to the complaint, which was filed Friday.

 The move was formalized July 21, but the business, through its receiver, has continued to use her name, likeness and memorabilia, it states.

A state Department of Revenue investigator declined comment on the lawsuit, but said that the agency is pleased that the remaining restaurants are in business.

Gladys Knight Chicken And Waffles 

“We’re happy to see stores are still operating and employees are keeping their jobs,” said Joshua Waites, director of the department’s office of special investigations. “That’s our main goal.”

The suit describes the restaurants as “an important tribute to Knight’s storied career,” and complains that they are being run poorly.

“They often have insufficient food to serve patrons and a number of menu items are often unavailable.

 They keep irregular hours, often opening late and closing early. They have fewer employees than normal and are operated in a disorderly manner,” the suit states.