R. Kelly is the subject of a new lawsuit filed in a Manhattan court on Monday (May 21), alleging sexual battery, false imprisonment and failure to disclose a sexually transmitted disease.
According to the New York Times, the complaint by Texas woman Faith A. Rodgers seeks unspecified damages and claims the two met when she was 19 last March following a concert in San Antonio. A few months of phone contact followed before Kelly flew her out to New York, where he allegedly “initiated unwanted sexual contact” in a hotel room, including “non-consensual oral and vaginal intercourse.” Rodgers claims Kelly did not tell her that he had herpes and infected her with the virus, which if true is a criminal act.
Rodgers says she stayed in a relationship with Kelly for about a year, during which he “routinely engaged in intimidation, mental, verbal and sexual abuse, during and after sexual contact.” This was “behavior designed to humiliate, embarrass, intimate and shame her,” according to the lawsuit. It also alleges Kelly would often record Rodgers during sex without her consent and keep her locked in secluded areas to punish and control her.
The complaint is the latest of many recent sexual misconduct allegations that have been raised against Kelly recently, including claims of imprisonment and grooming young women to join his reported “sex cult.” Kelly has denied all these claims, but increased scrutiny amid the #MeToo movement has led to a new viral #MuteRKelly campaign, protests outside his concerts and Spotify enacting a new policy banning his — and others’ — music from its editorial playlists.
Reps for R. Kelly’s label, RCA Records, did not respond to requests for comment at press time. The artist’s manager declined to comment.
“We want to make sure that we do justice for our client,” Rodgers’ attorney Lydia C. Hills told Billboard. “This behavior of Mr. Kelly’s is not new, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise for anyone. But our ultimate goal is getting justice for her.”
This story first appeared on billboard.com
More from The Hollywood Reporter
-
![]()
-
![]()
-
The Last of Us
Bella Ramsey Says They’re Worried Pedro Pascal’s “Daddy” Narrative Has “Gone Too Far”
![]()
-
Writers Strike
Taika Waititi, Eva Longoria and Niecy Nash-Betts Talk Leading the Diversity Charge at The Hollywood Reporter’s Raising Our Voices Luncheon
![]()
-
Bruce Willis
Tallulah Willis Opens Up About Coping With Father Bruce Willis’ Dementia, Says She’s “Known Something Was Wrong for a Long Time”
![]()
-
Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone Discusses Challenges With Getting Work Since Her Stroke, Rails Against “Anti-Woke Bullsh**” at THR’s Raising Our Voices Event
![]()
