Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Woman sues R. Kelly, alleges sexual battery
A woman has filed a lawsuit against R. Kelly, accusing the singer of sexual battery, knowingly infecting her with herpes and locking her in rooms for punishment.
Faith Rodgers says in the suit filed Monday in New York that she met Kelly about a year ago after a concert in San Antonio. The 20-year-old says that during their relationship, Kelly “mentally, sexually and verbally” abused her. Kelly’s management team declined to comment. Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is one of pop music’s best-selling artists, with hits like “Ignition,” “I Believe I Can Fly,” and “Bump N’ Grind.”
Rodgers, who appeared Tuesday on “CBS This Morning,” said Kelly instructed her to call him “Daddy” and told her his goal was to teach her how to have sex like a “mature woman.” She said Kelly visited her hotel room after he flew her to New York to attend a show and she “submitted” to sex.
“I didn’t really say anything. I kind of just froze up,” she said. “I definitely was uncomfortable. But he has this type of, like, intimidation right off the bat. You know? So I was just waiting for it to be over.”
Rodgers said situations like that occurred “multiple times.” The lawsuit says Kelly “disregarded specific statements made by plaintiff that she was ‘not ready to have sex’ ” with him.
The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they decide to make their names public, which Rodgers has done.