R. Kelly's musical selections have been staples in our community for quite some time now. His talent simply can't be denied, and quite frankly, he's a musical legend. At the same time, we've also known that R. Kelly has had a deplorable record. There's definitely something wrong with the way he bumps 'n grinds. Between his marriage to a then 15-year-old Aaliyah, his infamous golden shower sex tape allegations from 2001 in which he was acquitted in 2008, and many other accusations of dealing sexually with young and underage women, it's safe to safe Kelly has some issues.

Well now, things just got even messier because Buzzfeed News is reporting that parents have told police that R. Kelly is running an abusive "cult" that's tearing families apart. Not only that, three women who were formerly apart of Kelly's inner circle are giving their side of the story which seems to be confirming the allegations of these parents. They said that the 50-year-old singer keeps six women in properties that he rents in Chicago and the Atlanta suburbs, and he controls every aspect of their lives. He dictates what they eat, when they bathe, when they sleep, how they dress, and how they engage in sexual encounters that he records.

Kelly is accused of luring young girls in under the guise of looking to help them break into the music industry. One mother, who is simply identified as J. to protect her privacy, says that Kelly met her daughter backstage at a concert in Atlanta and said he was really impressed with her music. She and her husband had moved from Memphis to Atlanta for the sole purpose of helping to boost her daughter's career. Excited, she let Kelly start working with her daughter. However, two years after the initial encounter, the family is fighting to get their daughter back. The last time they saw her was December 2016.

Three former members of Kelly’s inner circle, who are identified as Cheryl Mack, Kitti Jones, and Asante McGee, say that the women living in Kelly’s Duluth, Georgia, “guest house” or his Chicago recording studio last summer included:

"A 31-year-old “den mother” who “trained” newcomers on how Kelly liked to be pleasured sexually. She had been best friends since high school with the girl in the videotape for which Kelly was tried in 2008. She recently parted ways with Kelly, these sources say. A 25-year-old woman who also has been part of Kelly’s scene for seven years. A recent arrival, a 19-year-old model who has been photographed in public with Kelly and named on music gossip websites — a rarity among the women in his circle. An Atlanta songwriter who began her relationship with Kelly around 2009, when she was 19. (She is now 26.) And an 18-year-old singer from Polk County, Florida. Mack said the Florida singer is Kelly’s 'favorite — his number-one girl.' "

You may remember last year when Twitter dragged Kelly for wanting to marry his 19-year-old girlfriend. Of course, they had something to say about this latest expose and Kels antics over the years.

While the Twitter drag was both funny and sad, it may have been way deeper than we thought. The women say that he refers to them as his "babies" and they must refer to him as "Daddy." Mack said Kelly almost always tells the women to dress in jogging suits because “he doesn’t want their figures to be exposed; he doesn’t want them to look appealing.” While McGee and Jones say Kelly films his sexual activities and shows the videos to men in his circle. They also say that he punishes the women physically and verbally for breaking his rules.

“I got trapped,” Jones said. “I had people telling me I was an idiot. But it took me a long time to realize they were right, and I’m talking now because I hope I can help some of these other girls.”

While the other women are still allegedly trapped in his closet, his attorney, Linda Mensch, is denying these claims. In an email to Buzzfeed, she writes: 

“We can only wonder why folks would persist in defaming a great artist who loves his fans, works 24/7 and takes care of all of the people in his life. He works hard to become the best person and artist he can be. It is interesting that stories and tales debunked many years ago turn up when his goal is to stop the violence; put down the guns; and embrace peace and love. I suppose that is the price of fame. Like all of us, Mr. Kelly deserves a personal life. Please respect that.”

All we know is that's what's done in the dark will come to the light, only time will tell.

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