Kirk Franklin and his son must come together

An ugly family exchange was thrust into public view Saturday when Kirk Franklin’s estranged son published audio of the gospel legend berating him in a profanity-laden phone call that ends with his father screaming, “I will break your neck. Don’t you ever disrespect me.”

The elder Franklin, 51, is a beloved and influential figure in the gospel music world and is widely credited with popularizing modern gospel in the mainstream. He posted an apology to his fans later that night that drew even more attention — and polarized reactions — to the rancorous father-son exchange. By Sunday, “Kirk Franklin” was a Twitter trending topic.

Kerrion Franklin, 32, posted a clip of the exchange on Instagram on Saturday and included a caption that said he doesn’t feel safe around his father. “I don’t think I’ll ever trust my father to be alone around him ever again,” he wrote.