Last month, BuzzFeed News published a Jim DeRogatis report outlining allegations that accused R. Kelly of manipulating the lives of six women and holding them in a “cult”-like environment. Tonight, DeRogatis and BuzzFeed shared a new report—one that tells the story of Jerhonda Pace. Now a 24-year-old mother of three, Pace said she met R. Kelly when she was 15 years old, began a sexual relationship with the singer at 16, was physically and mentally abused by Kelly, and accepted a cash settlement from him in exchange for a signed nondisclosure agreement. Read DeRogatis’ new report in full.
Pace, then known as Jehronda Johnson, said she first met Kelly while he stood trial on 14 counts of making child pornography in 2008. The next year, when she was 16, she was invited to Kelly’s mansion. After the two had oral sex for the first time during one of their first encounters, she claimed that he then attempted to ensure that she wouldn’t speak about the incident. Pace accused Kelly of having her write and sign letters confessing that she stole from him and accusing her parents of trying to get her to blackmail Kelly. (Pace denies that any of the charges detailed in the letters were true.)
On June 9, 2009, Pace said Kelly gave her alcohol before the two had intercourse. On July 17, 2009, she said she told Kelly her real age. Over the ensuing months, Pace said she had sex with Kelly multiple times. She also claimed that most of the encounters were filmed without her permission.
Similar to the allegations raised in last month’s “cult” report, Pace claimed that she was forced to adhere to Kelly’s “rules” whenever she’d visit: a dress code of baggy clothes, no phone, and she needed permission to shower, eat, use the bathroom, or leave. If she broke his rules, she said she was mentally and physically abused by Kelly.
Her relationship with Kelly ended in January 2010. Pace said she was caught texting a friend, an argument ensued, and Kelly attacked her. “I was slapped and I was choked and I was spit on.” Pace hired an attorney, Susan E. Loggans, who had her take a lie detector test. Within weeks, a large settlement was negotiated in return for Pace’s signed nondisclosure agreement and promise that she wouldn’t pursue charges or additional claims against Kelly.
Though she could face legal repercussions for speaking publicly about her history with Kelly, Pace said that she’s breaking her nondisclosure agreement out of concern for the women who are still living with him. “If I can speak out and I can help them get out of that situation, that’s what I will do,” she said. “I didn’t have anybody to speak up on my behalf when I was going through what I was going through with him. He’s brainwashed them really bad, and it kind of reminds me of Charles Manson.”
DeRogatis and BuzzFeed News verified Pace’s story by speaking to sources with “firsthand knowledge of the situation.” They also cited signed legal documents, letters between Pace and her attorneys, the aforementioned polygraph test, settlement drafts, probate court documents establishing an estate for Pace due to the civil settlement, and a payment made by Kelly’s management company to Pace.
“The allegations against Mr. Kelly are false, and are being made by individuals known to be dishonest,” Kelly’s representative said in a statement to Pitchfork. “It is clear these continuing stories are the result of the effort of those with personal agendas who are working in concert to interfere with and damage his career. Mr. Kelly again denies any and all wrong doing and is taking appropriate legal action to protect himself from ongoing defamation.”
In DeRogatis’ July report, he shared conversations with three former members of Kelly’s inner circle, who claimed the singer “controls every aspect of the women’s lives: dictating what they eat, how they dress, when they bathe, when they sleep, and how they engage in sexual encounters that he records.” Parents of two of the women said they hadn’t seen their daughters in more than a year. Kelly’s lawyer Linda Mensch issued a statement denying the allegations and said Kelly intended to “work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name.” After the story was published, several shows on Kelly’s After Party tour were cancelled for unknown reasons.
