R. Kelly is once again being accused of sexual misconduct. A Dallas woman claims the singer infected her with a sexually transmitted disease during their relationship which began when she was 19 years old.
According to The Washington Post, the woman filed a complaint with the Dallas Police Department last week and is preparing a federal civil complaint against Kelly. Her attorney, Lee Merritt, says they’re seeking restitution and compensation for the damages.
As usual, Kelly has denied all claims and allegations.
The woman, whose identity is being protected, says she met Kelly last June, and their eight month relationship ended in February. She was allegedly infected in December. In a statement released to The Post, Merritt says “our client was the victim of several forms of criminal misconduct by Kelly, including, but not limited to, unlawful restraint, furnishing alcohol and illegal drugs to a minor, and aggravated assault (via the referenced intentional STD infection)."
He also references the "Step in the Name of Love" singer's reported sex cult, saying that his client was being groomed to join:
“These offenses occurred while our client was being groomed to join Kelly’s sex cult. Kelly gradually introduced the cult to our client over the course of their relationship, culminating with an explanation that she would have to sign a contract and offer collateral information about herself and her family for Kelly’s protection.”
Kelly is no stranger to accusations of sexual misconduct or abuse. In 2008, he was acquitted of child pornography charges because the victim and her parents refused to testify in the court case. In a 2017 BuzzFeed report, parents alleged Kelly had been running an abusive "cult" that was tearing families apart.
Since the report, a string of alleged victims have come forward against Kelly.
His latest accuser reached out to the parents of Jocelyn Savage, a 22-year-old who they said dropped out of college to move in with Kelly in 2016. She sent Timothy and Jonjelyn Savage an Instagram direct message earlier this year to tell them she had spent time with Jocelyn, according to The Post. Timothy Savage said on Sunday that he almost immediately asked whether she had a sexual relationship with Kelly and if she had been tested for an STD. He then called the woman “brave and courageous” for filing her report with the police.
What will come of the building case against Kelly is still a work in progress; however, as more women come forward, how long until he's cancelled for good?