Words by Alexandra Salandy
The R&B superstar R. Kelly has been accused of sexually abusing and manipulating women since 1994. The allegations started because at the time he married the 15-year old R&B singer Aaliyah when he was 27 years old. Since then, R. Kelly has been accused of multiple accounts of sexually and mentally abusing woman.
In July, rumors started circulating about the singer leading a sex cult that involved multiple young women being held against their will in a house located in Georgia.
Recently, Kitti Jones, a former ex-girlfriend of the R&B singer came forward to Rolling Stone about her past abusive relationship with him. Jones described how she was fan of R. Kelly since she was a teenager in the early 90’s.
Jones is a well known DJ for the Dallas Hip-Hop and R&B station 97.9, who met R. Kelly at an after party back in June 2011. She told Rolling Stone that after a little small talk the superstar gave her his number and told her to text him. Jones says she texted him shortly after, and R. Kelly told her to never call him Rob and to always call him “Daddy.”
Unknowing to Jones, this night would begin, what she describes as her mentally and sexually abusive relationship with Kelly. The singer took control of almost everything in her life. Jones described Kelly as drill sergeant. She said she felt very uncomfortable at times especially during intercourse because he was very controlling.
Similar to the stories of other alleged victims, Jones says she had to obey his rules or else she would be punished. The punishments included getting her phone taken away for as long as two months and not not being allowed to eat. She said R. Kelly would make her wear certain clothing and she would have to ask him before doing even a simple task such as using the bathroom.
According to Jones, R. Kelly put her through “6 months of hell” which is when he would force her to have sex with him and his other girlfriends at the time. “You just get numb to what’s happening,” says Jones.
Jones kept quiet for so long, but she said “staying quiet only protected her abuser.”
After Jones interview, Cosmopolitan reported that a representative for R. Kelly released a statement saying:
Mr. Kelly is aware of the repeated and now evolving claims of [Ms. Jones]. It is unfortunate that Ms. Jones, after public statements to the contrary, is now attempting to portray a relationship history with Mr. Kelly as anything other than consensual involvement between two adults. As stated previously, Mr. Kelly does not control the decision-making or force the actions of any other human being, including Ms. Jones, by her own admission. Any claim of wrongdoing of any kind or of mistreatment of any woman by him is false, ill-motived and defamatory.”
