R. Kelly’s girlfriend denies making claims against embattled singer
One of R. Kelly’s girlfriends is denying she ever operated a now-removed social media account that accused the R&B singer of psychological and sexual abuse.
In a video posted to TMZ, Joycelyn Savage said the account on Patreon — a networking site that aims to see online content creators paid for their work — was operated by an impostor.
In a prepared statement she read off a cellphone, Savage said: “It has been said that I had left him and he has abused me and all kinds of nonsense. I had said be [that] none of it is true. It is a shame how they are treating him. It is so wrong on so many levels and he does not deserve this. I am not going to be a part of the assassination of R. Kelly’s name, music career and his character.”
Savage later went off-script. Speaking directly to the camera, she added: “I would never in a million years hurt him like this. I would never do that. So it’s just really, really, really sad that somebody would pretend to be me — pretend to be me — and put it out in the world and say that I’m a victim, that I am brainwashed, OK?”
Savage also denied being the person operating an Instagram account in her name. Steve Greenberg, Kelly’s defense attorney, tweeted Wednesday: “Gotta love the truth. It will all come out.”
Gerald Griggs, an attorney for Savage’s family, released a statement saying in part: “Although we can now verify that it wasn’t her account, the allegations still remain. These are allegations that our own independent investigation found to be accurate and closely match the details listed in the four indictments against Mr. Kelly.” Kelly, 52, whose real name is Robert Kelly, is charged in federal court in Illinois with 13 counts including child pornography, enticing a minor into illegal sexual activity and conspiracy to obstruct justice. He also faces federal charges in New York and local cases in Minnesota and Cook County — all of which involve sex crimes against minors.