The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
R. Kelly accused of abusing women, running ‘cult’ in Johns Creek
Singer ‘disturbed’ by allegations, denies parents’ claims.
The parents of a metro Atlanta woman allegedly being held against her will by R&B singer R. Kelly contend the Grammy-award winning artist has “abused and brainwashed” their daughter.
Tim and Jonjelyn Savage made their claims Monday outside a home they say is Kelly’s in north Fulton County hours after a national story surfaced claiming the artist “held women against their will in a cult.”
The story by BuzzFeed cites three sets of parents of the women allegedly living with Robert Sylvester Kelly, along with a few people formerly part of his “inner circle.” They say these women live in Kelly’s homes in Chicago and in Johns Creek in an environment that is “an abusive cult.”
According to the story, the women who live with him are forbidden to contact their families, must ask his permission to go anywhere or communicate with anyone and are required to call him “Daddy.” The people cited in the story also say that Kelly films his sexual encounters with the women.
Kelly’s attorney released a statement refuting the claims.
“Mr. Robert Kelly is both
alarmed and disturbed at the recent revelations attributed to him,” the statement said. “Mr. Kelly unequivocally denies such allegations and will work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name.”
Johns Creek police told the AJC on Monday that despite the allegations in the story, “no further investigation is being conducted at this time” of Kelly and alleged happenings at his metro Atlanta home.
Reporters knocked on the door of the house before the press conference Monday and no one answered. Paper blinds covered every window.
The Savages said they haven’t seen their daughter since December 2016, and have only communicated with her a handful of times since then through text message.
“And I’m not even sure that was her,” Timothy Savage said. “... My daughter is being held against her will. The last time I saw my daughter she was in a horrible condition.” Timothy Savage said he believes his daughter now lives at Kelly’s Chicago home.
The AJC obtained a report from a well-being check that Johns Creek police conducted on Dec. 27, 2016, after the Savages said their daughter was being “beat” by Kelly and is “part of the R. Kelly cult.”
According to the report, Johns Creek police went to two homes, one on Creek Wind Court and another on Old Homestead Trail. They checked the house on Creek Wind Court, which the mother believes was Kelly’s guest home. When police arrived, the door was open and no one was home.
One of the three former members of Kelly’s inner circle mentioned in the story, Asante McGee, said she lived with Kelly for three years and has been questioned by the FBI and Johns Creek police about her time with the singer.
“I was always a fan of R. Kelly until I got behind closed doors,” McGee told reporters Monday. “... You have to ask to take a bath, to shower, to eat, permission to go from one room to the next. He really manipulates your mind because of who he is and his fame ... (Kelly) forced you to do sexual things that you were uncomfortable with.”
In 2008, Kelly was acquitted on 14 charges of making child pornography. In April, a lawsuit was filed against Kelly in Illinois for having an affair with the wife of a police officer. In a 2016 interview with GQ, Kelly claimed he was sexually abused by a family member as a child.
Kelly is scheduled to play at the Wolf Creek Amphitheater in College Park on Aug. 25. The venue is owned by Fulton County but managed by LiveNation, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.