The late Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman and his late wife Beth Chapman’s daughter, Bonnie Chapman, is speaking out against her father.
Dog, 68, was accused of racism, homophobia, and infidelity by Bonnie, 22, and her half-sister Cecily, 28, after they claimed this week that they were not invited to Dog’s wedding to Francie Frane on September 2. Bonnie then posted a lengthy statement on social media.
Bonnie asserted She was informed by Frane, 52, that her involvement in and support of Black Lives Matter rallies with the show The System—apparently accessible through a “streaming platform” called UnleashedTV—was the reason she was not invited to the wedding.
Dog was sacked by UnleashedTV, claims Bonnie. PEOPLE has contacted the site for comment. “I’m sorry, but I can’t defend my Dad’s racism,” Bonnie wrote.
“When it comes to ‘The System’ on UnleashedTV, my father was fired by the platform for using racial and homophobic epithets toward my fellow cast members on the show, which is about social justice advocacy and protesting violence and racial bias by police. I have expressed time and time again my ever-growing disappointment in my father’s progression into his old racist ways.”
Dog and Frane told PEOPLE via their representative, “Bonnie’s allegations are false and a misguided attempt to derail our wedding.”
According to the statement, Dog’s “disgruntled former associates” have “groomed” Bonnie and Cecily, who is Beth’s daughter with her first husband Keith Barmore, “who wants revenge at any cost and are trying to tarnish [his] reputation.”
“Please pray for Bonnie and Cecily to be released from whatever hold these people have on them. We love them and pray for them every day. We are grateful to the rest of our family for helping us to set the record straight.
Despite the sadness we feel at this rift in our family, Francie and I look forward to celebrating our wedding next week with the rest of our family and close friends.”
Bonnie also claimed that Dog had cheated on her mother, Beth in her social media post, who passed away in June 2019 at 51 after being diagnosed with stage II throat cancer in 2017.
“I had forgiven my father after my mother’s de@th for countless actions that I shouldn’t have,” she wrote. “He would cheat on my mom all the time, and I hated him every time he did it, but I forgave him for that because I wanted a relationship with my dad.”
She continued, “My mom was a true leader, and believe it or not, she kept my dad focused on his career. We all know of his missteps, but my mom always stood by him. … She loved my father and did her best to make him the best man he could be.
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All too often, that job consisted of dealing with his near-constant infidelity with her friends and strangers while trying to teach him to be a better man. I don’t think that work was in vain; I think Mom did change my dad. But that change vanished when my mom d!ed.”
Bonnie continued by alleging that her father had adopted “old prejudices,” calling BLM protestors “thugs” and using “horrific epithets” towards LGBTQ people.
She further criticized him for being friends “with people like right-wing megachurch pastor Greg Locke,” who has made headlines recently for telling his Tennessee congregation that they will be expelled if they wear masks during the COVID-19 pandemic and has posted homophobic material on social media.
The pastor said he is “proud” to call Dog a friend after the dog appeared on an episode of Locke’s podcast in April.
“I’m sorry to speak about the real Duane Chapman for those who loved my mother and the man she loved,” Bonnie wrote. “I know this may shock some of the public, but you deserve the truth.
I’m sorry for those who looked up to my father growing up. I’m sorry to those who truly thought he was a good man; I thought so too at some point.”
She continued: “I believe my father, at some point, was making his best efforts to be a good man, which is why I’ve publicly ALWAYS defended him. I followed my mom’s lead. I followed the strongest woman I’ve ever known.
I was scared my only parent would hate me. I was scared of not being invited to family gatherings. However, I know my mom would never stand for this, and it is in honor of her legacy that I speak out.”
She also claimed Frane contracted COVID-19 last year, in December, but “flew to speaking events” regardless. Dog’s rep tells PEOPLE, “Francie did not travel with COVID-19. That is patently untrue.”
“If my dad and his new wife want to travel to right-wing churches attacking gay people and advancing QAnon theories, he can certainly do that, but I’m going to stand by the memory and legacy of my mom, Beth Chapman.
Her memory, and the values she stood for, are worth fighting to advance. I said before that I didn’t know why I wasn’t invited to my dad’s [sic] wedding. While I knew he was mad about being fired, he has only himself to blame. I thought my dad would be brave enough to put family first, but it appears that man died with my mother.”
Following the post, Lyssa Chapman, Bonnie’s half-sister, defended Dog on Twitter. Bonnie, according to Lyssa, Dog’s daughter with his ex-wife Lyssa Rae Brittain, had been “indoctrinated” by Dog’s old business associates.
Lyssa said, “my sister(s) are spreading lies about our father.” “Pay no attention! Our family adores Bonnie and Cecily, and we are devastated to hear that someone is using them to get revenge on Dad. Dad is not homophobic or racist. He is universally loving.
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