Following a shocking report that he’s holding numerous women in an abusive cult, R. Kelly has released a statement denying the allegations.
BuzzFeed released a bombshell report on Monday that included concerned parents accusing the singer of holding their daughters hostage in a cult, alleging he promised the young women fame but now controls their every move.
Kelly’s lawyer responded to the allegations shortly after the story went viral, telling PEOPLE, “Mr. Robert Kelly is both alarmed and disturbed at the recent revelations attributed to him. Mr. Kelly unequivocally denies such allegations and will work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name.”
Now, one of Kelly’s alleged victims has responded too. In a video interview with TMZ, 21-year-old Jocelyn Savage said, “I just mainly want to say that I am in a happy place with my life. I’m not being brainwashed or anything like that. It just came to a point where it definitely has gotten out of hand. I just want everybody to know—my parents and everybody in the world—that I am totally fine. I’m happy where I’m at, and everything is okay with me.”
Savage refused to give her location or answer whether she was allowed to leave. She also added that she hadn’t spoken to her parents in “about five to six months, on and off.” “They’ll text me from time to time,” she said, “but I haven’t really wanted to speak to them because of what they’re doing.”
Savage’s father, Timothy said in a press conference Monday afternoon that his daughter is likely suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. And, a former Kelly associate, Asante McGee repeated allegations made in the BuzzFeed article.
On Tuesday, Timothy challenged the R&B singer to sue so that “everybody can see your dirty laundry.”
Kelly’s only personal response has been on Instagram with a post saying, “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today” with the caption, “You have work to do and purpose to live. Make it count.”
This will surely not be the end of this story.