James Brown and his daughters in New York City.Photo:Ebet Roberts/Redferns

James BROWN, James Brown with wife Adrienne Rodriguez (L) and family at the Grammy Awards held at Radio City Music Hall in New York

Ebet Roberts/Redferns

James Brownwas a superstar and a loving father — but he was also a flawed husband.

In this week’s issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday, James' daughters Deanna Brown Thomas and Yamma Brown open up about finding forgiveness for their father after he abused their mother, Deidre Jenkins, growing up.

“When you see a family member being hurt, you’re not feeling the best about the person that’s hurting them,” Yamma, 51, tells PEOPLE. “I was flat-out upset, mad with my dad at that moment. I still go back to that place every now and then, not to belittle my dad, but flashing back over my own life and the domestic violence situation in my life, thinking how much of that shaped me.”

Dr. Yamma Brown, Deborah Riley Draper, and Dr. Deanna Brown Thomas at the premiere of ‘James Brown: Say It Loud’ in New York on Feb. 13, 2024.Joy Malone/Getty

Dr. Yamma Brown, Deborah Riley Draper, and Dr. Deanna Brown Thomas attend A&E’s “James Brown: Say It Loud” New York Premiere at The Apollo’s Victoria Theater on February 13, 2024 in New York City.

Joy Malone/Getty

Yamma continues, “That’s how I think about it, in order to move on from that space, you do have to talk about it, you do have to acknowledge that it happened.”

“There was a time when I didn’t like my father. I didn’t like him because of this type of behavior. I saw a lot growing up. I heard a lot growing up that could have damaged me for a lifetime,” she says.

James Brown and his daughter Deanna.

James Brown and daughter Deanna

Adding of the family dynamics, “He never had any type of rage towards us because we were his children. That was a situation between a husband and a wife. There’s different type of love, different type of circumstances.”

James and Jenkins, his second wife, sought a divorce in 1981 and she forgave him with time. In his third marriage to Adrienne Rodriguez, however, he was arrested several times for allegedly assaulting her.

“My dad did apologize to my mom. Not to say that that was something that just erased everything, but also knowing that he had compassion in his heart and my mom was receptive to that,” Yamma explains.

For more on the legacy of James Brown, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.

source: people.com