Woman Sues R. Kelly, Says He Abused Her, Gave Her Herpes

Kelly's camp has denied latest accusations
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 22, 2018 2:08 PM CDT
Woman Sues R. Kelly, Alleging Sexual Battery
In this June 30, 2013, file photo, R. Kelly performs onstage at the BET Awards at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP, File)

Singer R. Kelly sexually abused a woman, locked her in rooms and vehicles for punishment, and infected her with herpes, the woman said in a lawsuit filed in New York. Faith Rodgers said in the suit filed Monday that she met Kelly about a year ago after a concert in San Antonio, Texas. The 20-year-old says that Kelly "mentally, sexually and verbally" abused her during their relationship, the AP reports. Rodgers said in an appearance Tuesday on CBS This Morning that Kelly instructed her to call him "daddy" and told her his goal was to teach her how to have sex like a "mature woman." Kelly's management team declined to comment Tuesday, but they previously denied Rodgers' claims when she filed a police report in Dallas.

A series of women have come forward to allege misconduct by Kelly over recent years, accusing him of everything from sexual coercion to physical abuse. That includes parents who said their daughter was being held by Kelly as part of a sex cult, and a woman who said she was in a long-term abusive relationship with him. Kelly and the girl whose parents came forward denied the allegations against him. "Unfortunately, the facts and background of this case are not unique," said Rodgers' lawsuit. "This is a run-of-the-mill R. Kelly sexual abuse case. For over 20 years, women across America have been victimized by defendant, R. Kelly, and have filed eerily similar claims."

(More R. Kelly stories.)

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