The pop/R&B group Color Me Badd formed in Oklahoma City in 1985. In the early '90s, the group scored a few major hits, including "I Wanna Sex You Up," "I Adore Mi Amor," and "All 4 Love." Since their success faded, Color Me Badd have had a tumultuous history, with original members coming and going as they play the nostalgia circuit. The only original member in the current Color Me Badd lineup is Mark Calderon. Another original member, Kevin Thornton, originally left Color Me Badd in 1998 to become a minister in Fort Worth, Texas, though he made a couple of temporary returns in later years. Now, the current version of Color Me Badd has issued a statement about Thornton after his estranged daughter accused him of running a violently strict and "cult-like" household.
Earlier this month, Mikayla Thornton, Kevin Thornton's youngest daughter, appeared on Soft White Underbelly, a YouTube interview series that the photographer Mark Laita started in 2016. In her interview, Mikayla speaks of how her father ran a physically and emotionally abusive household, using Christianity as a pretext for violence. In the opening moments of the interview, she says, "We had this stick called the rod of correction, and it had Bible verses on it and our names on it. And anytime we'd get in trouble, we would get beat with the rod of correction because that was from the Bible." She goes on to talk about her father using a literal physical Bible to beat her before cataloging more horrors.
In the interview, Mikayla Thornton says that Thornton met her mother when he was 20 and she was 13. When they married six years later, the couple adopted the children that Thornton had with other women. Mikayla says, "It was a cult. My dad was the head. We were his disciples... My dad operated on fear to keep us silent because his name, who he is, his appearance, everything is optics." (I'm relying on a Complex story for some of these posts because the original interview is a long, difficult watch and I'd rather not transcribe more than I have to.)
Mikayla goes on to say that Child Protective Services made multiple visits to their house because she would go to school with visible bruises, and she claims that her parents failed to intervene when she was sexually abused by other children at her school. Per Complex, Mikayla says that her parents "prayed that she would suffer a catastrophic car accident that left her paralyzed or disfigured as punishment for rejecting their authority." Since the interview's publication, Kevin Thornton has deactivated his Instagram account.
Last night, Color Me Badd posted a statement on the group's official Instagram account. The group commends Mikayla's courage and says, "Our hearts are with Mikayla, her siblings, and all those affected by the circumstances described. We are lifting them, their families, and loved ones up in prayer during what is undoubtedly an incredibly difficult time." They also clarify that Kevin Thornton "has not been a member of Color Me Badd since 2016, following the resolution of federal litigation involving the group, and he has had no involvement in the current touring, management, or business operations of Color Me Badd since that time."
Beyond that, Color Me Badd say that they "will not comment on their substance or on private matters involving individuals who are no longer affiliated with the group." Here's their full statement:
Color Me Badd is aware of the serious and deeply personal allegations recently brought forward concerning former member Kevin Thornton and members of his family.
We recognize the courage it takes for anyone to speak publicly about painful personal experiences. Our hearts are with Mikayla, her siblings, and all those affected by the circumstances described. We are lifting them, their families, and loved ones up in prayer during what is undoubtedly an incredibly difficult time.
We also believe it is important to provide clarity regarding Kevin Thornton's relationship with Color Me Badd today. Kevin has not been a member of Color Me Badd since 2016, following the resolution of federal litigation involving the group, and he has had no involvement in the current touring, management, or business operations of Color Me Badd since that time.
Since 2020, Color Me Badd, owned by founding member, Mark Calderon, has continued forward as a touring group, performing more than 250 shows across the United States and multiple countries. Mark remains focused on creating a positive experience for its fans and celebrating the music and memories of the 90s that have connected Color Me Badd with audiences around the world for more than three decades.
Given the sensitive and deeply personal nature of these allegations, Color Me Badd will not comment on their substance or on private matters involving individuals who are no longer affiliated with the group.
Our sincere thoughts remain with everyone affected, and we continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
