R. Kelly has been sued for sexual battery, false imprisonment, and failure to disclose an STD, TMZ reports. The lawsuit also alleges that Kelly “routinely engaged in intimidation, mental, verbal and sexual abuse, during and after sexual contact,” The New York Times reports. Pitchfork has reached out to Kelly’s lawyer for comment.
Faith Rodgers claims they met in March 2017 when she was 19 at a performance in San Antonio, Texas. Kelly allegedly flew her in for his concert in New York and after the show, initiated “unwanted sexual contact” at her hotel room. Rodgers described it as “non-consensual oral and vaginal intercourse,” the Times reports. They allegedly dated for one year, and during that time, she claims he locked her in rooms, studios, and cars as punishment for “failing to fulfill his sexual desires,” according to TMZ. Kelly allegedly had a female assistant stand guard to keep Rodgers from fleeing.
Rodgers also claims that she caught herpes from Kelly. She previously filed a formal complaint with Dallas police, saying Kelly “knowingly and intentionally” gave her the STD without informing her that he had herpes—an offense that can result in an assault charge.
“Unfortunately, the facts and background of this case are not unique,” the complaint states, and according to the Times, it alludes to the recent reporting of Kelly’s alleged “sex cult.” “This is a run-of-the-mill R. Kelly sexual abuse case.” Several women have accused R. Kelly of abuse in recent months.
Earlier today, it was reported that Kelly lost a lawsuit filed by his management company after he failed to show up in a Chicago federal courtroom. The lawsuit was against a venue over a breach of contract claim.
Read “The Struggle to Silence R. Kelly” in the Pitch.
This story was originally published on Monday, May 21 at 6:01 p.m. Eastern. It was updated on May 21 at 9:26 p.m. Eastern.
