Nina Simone's granddaughter blamed Vice President Kamala Harris for singer's estate that was 'taken away' from family
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- Nina Simone's granddaughter spoke out against Vice President Kamala Harris on Twitter.
- RéAnna Simone Kelly blamed Harris for taking away Simone's estate from the family.
- Harris oversaw a case in which Simone's daughter allegedly breached "her fiduciary duty" to the estate, The Daily Beast reported.
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The family of late singer Nina Simon claimed Vice President Kamala Harris had "taken away" the singer's estate from them.
RéAnna Simone Kelly, Simone's granddaughter, made the accusation on Friday in a series of tweets. RéAnna initially started tweeting to share her support for a cover of "Feeling Good" performed on Friday by Chloe Bailey, but she began responding to fans in the comment section.
RéAnna took aim at Harris in response to a user's question on why Simone's estate created a Twitter account for the jazz singer nine years after her death in 2003.
"My family doesn't run her estate anymore. It was taken away from us & given to white people. Our family name was DRAGGED in the media," RéAnna wrote. "We get NO royalties, nothing. Wanna hold someone accountable? Ask Kamala Harris why she came for my family."
-RéAnna Simone Kelly (@reasiimone) June 19, 2021
The Daily Beast reported that the family's tension with Harris began in 2013 when she worked as California's Attorney General. Lisa Simone Kelly, the daughter of Nina Simone and mother of RéAnna, was appointed the administrator to the singer's estate and charitable trust.
Around that time, Lisa was accused of "breaching her fiduciary duty" to the estate and trust, The Daily Beast reported. Lisa allegedly used up to $2 million from the funds, including an alleged $1.5 million deposit into her personal company.
Harris oversaw the case proceedings, at one point attempting to surcharge Lisa almost $6 million with $2.5 million in interest. The case ended in a settlement that saw Lisa lose her administrator title and give up her rights to Simone's works, The Daily Beast reported. Lisa was also banned from suggesting or saying she had any affiliation with her mother's estate and legacy.
Neither RéAnna nor the White House immediately responded to Insider's request for comment.
On Twitter, RéAnna voiced her grievances about the situation and further placed blame on Harris. RéAnna said Simone's estate is in "shambles" now, and the proceedings allegedly separated the family.
-RéAnna Simone Kelly (@reasiimone) June 19, 2021
RéAnna also suggested she was hurt after Simone's "Feeling Good" was performed for President Joe Biden and Harris during the inauguration.
"OH WAIT, While we're asking Kamala questions ask her why after all of this pain and suffering she put us through a Nina Simone song was sang at the inauguration to swear her in as VP?!" she wrote.
-RéAnna Simone Kelly (@reasiimone) June 19, 2021
Lisa on Saturday shared a video to Instagram, where she said she supported her daughter's remarks.
"I support everything she said," Lisa said. "She's speaking her truth; she's speaking the truth of our family."