What to Know
- A 20-year-old woman has sued R. Kelly in NYC court, alleging he sexually abused her and infected her with herpes
- Representatives for Kelly declined comment on the lawsuit Tuesday
- He has long been the target of sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied
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, Texas. The 20-year-old says that during their relationship Kelly "mentally, sexually and verbally" abused her.
Kelly's management team declined to comment Tuesday.
R. Kelly is one of pop music's best-selling artists, with hits including "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.
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"I didn't really say anything. I kinda 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.
"After initiating non-permissive, painful and abusive sex with plaintiff, defendant, R. Kelly, immediately insulted and criticized" Rodgers "concerning her 'lack of participation' and physical inadequacies."
Earlier this month, Spotify, citing its new policy on hate content and hateful conduct, removed the R&B singer's music from its promoted playlists and algorithms following a campaign from #MuteRKelly and others to sanction him.
The Time's Up campaign took aim at R. Kelly late last month over allegations that he has sexually abused women. The organization urged further investigation into the singer's behavior, which has come under closer scrutiny over the last year in wake of the #MeToo movement, as women have come forward to accuse him of everything from sexual coercion to physical abuse. Kelly has denied wrongdoing.
"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."
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.
Kelly, who has won multiple Grammys, sold close to 30 million albums and has written hits for Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Aaliyah and more, has crafted pop anthems and love songs but he is defined by sexually explicit songs such as "Feelin' on Yo Booty," ''Your Body's Calling Me," ''Sex Me" and even more explicit fare.
He has long been accused of behavior that has ranged from questionable to criminal. He wed a 15-year-old protege, the late R&B star Aaliyah, in 1994. The marriage was later annulled and the two refused to confirm that it even happened.
He was later accused of child pornography after a widely circulated videotape appeared to show him having sex with, and urinating on, a teenage girl. He was acquitted of all charges in 2008 and continued to rack up hits and sell out stadiums around the country.
In recent years, as more women have come forward to allege misconduct, protests against Kelly have increased.
A woman told Rolling Stone last year that she was in a long-term relationship with the singer that was sexually and physically abusive. Parents claimed their daughter was being held by Kelly as part of a sex cult but their daughter, who was of age, denied their claims. And recently a woman in Dallas filed a lawsuit against the singer claiming he gave her a sexually transmitted disease, and she claimed he was grooming her to be a part of a sex cult.
Kelly has denied the allegations against him.
An appearance at a concert in his native Chicago scheduled earlier this month was canceled after protests.
