R. KELLY STILL IN TROUBLE
One
of R. Kelly's alleged victims says he is trying to retaliate against her for
speaking out in the Lifetime docuseries "Surviving R. Kelly."
Faith
Rodgers, 21, appeared in the series. Her attorney, Gloria Allred, said at a
press conference Monday that Kelly posted private photos of Rodgers online and
threatened in a letter to smear her reputation.
Rodgers
filed a civil suit against Kelly last year, claiming he unlawfully gave her
alcohol, assaulted her and gave her a sexually transmitted disease.
"If
she persists in court action she will be subjected to public opinion during the
discovery process," Kelly purportedly wrote in response to the
allegations, according to a letter shared by Allred. "For example, my law
team is prepared to request the production of the medical test results proving
the origin of her STD claim."
The
letter continues, "If Ms. Rodgers really cares about her own reputation
she should cease her participation and association with the organizers of this
negative campaign."
In
an email to CNN, Kelly's attorney, Steve Greenberg, denied the letter was
Kelly's.
"It
obviously was not authored or signed by Mr. Kelly, nor sent on his behalf. He
doesn't write letters," Greenberg said.
CNN
obtained a copy of the letter which appears to be signed by Robert Sylvester
Kelly, the legal name of R. Kelly and sent to the law offices of Lydia C. Hills
Agu, the attorney who filed Rodgers' lawsuit.
"I
trusted him and he betrayed my trust," Rodgers said Monday. "Once I
recognized my worth, I knew I had to walk away. No woman should be
victim-shamed, harassed or retaliated against because she...has spoken her
truth."
Rodgers
said she was 19 when she first met the singer in 2017 after Kelly performed in
San Antonio, Texas, according to the suit obtained by CNN.
She
said she was in a year-long relationship with Kelly, formed "under the
auspices of helping her develop a career in entertainment."
Kelly,
then 50, allegedly supplied Rodgers with alcohol during their first meeting.
According to the suit, Kelly stayed in contact with Rodgers after he left
Texas, saying he wanted them "to develop a long term romantic
relationship."
Weeks
later, Kelly arranged for Rodgers to travel to New York for one of his concerts
and put her up in a hotel. Rodgers claims the singer came to her room after his
show, disregarded her statements that she was "not ready to have
sex," and raped her.
As
a result, Rodgers says she contracted herpes from the singer.
Rodgers
was scheduled to meet with New York Police about her claims, Allred said.
Gerald
Griggs, an attorney for the family of Joycelyn Savage, another woman featured
in "Surviving R. Kelly," said last week that the Fulton County
District Attorney's office in Georgia is conducting an investigation into
Kelly.
That
same day, a Chicago prosecutor said her office has been in touch with two
families related to allegations against Kelly.
Cook
County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx urged potential victims or witnesses to
speak to police.
"Mr.
Kelly, you may soon join the ranks of Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein,"
Allred said Monday. "Just as they have been and are being held accountable
for their actions, you also must be accountable."
Rodgers'
mother, who was at Monday's press event, said she and her husband have received
threatening phone calls and texts since their daughter filed suit.
"R.
Kelly's predatory behavior has destroyed the lives and the innocence of many
women for the past few decades," the elder Rodgers said. "We
encourage those who are still afraid to speak out to come forward. You are not
alone and your voice matters."
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