R. Kelly's "cult" of women

[cassafrass]

Anyone else see this? I'm not done reading but need to discuss when I'm done. This shit is crazy. Potential trigger warning for mental/sexual abuse of young women.

www.buzzfeed.com/jimderogatis/parents-told-police-r-kelly-is-keeping-women-in-a-cult?utm_term=.wh65YyLnp#.aqxzPAwG4

[Dramaphile]

Holy shit that's crazy

[brux]

We have talked some in the blinds. We can bring the convo out here.

[cassafrass]

Jul 17, 2017 10:05:12 GMT -6 brux said:

We have talked some in the blinds. We can bring the convo out here.

Sorry, I don't keep up with the blinds every day. I just saw this and posted because this shit is nuts.

[allisong]

I'm just like deeply disturbed by this. And the police can't do anything because the girls tell them they're okay.

[heybulldog]

I haven't finished reading yet but holy shit.

[cassafrass]

Jul 17, 2017 10:09:50 GMT -6 allisong said:

I'm just like deeply disturbed by this. And the police can't do anything because the girls tell them they're okay.

From the article is seems like he learned his lesson from previous charges. He is targeting girls soon-to-be of the age of consent, grooming them, and then preying on them and isolating them once they're legally able to consent. This way he avoids charges and parents can't intervene.

The level of manipulation that he goes to getting these girls to leave their friends and families and cut off contact is absolutely sickening.

I also didn't know about his supposed marriage to Aaliyah when she was 15. He has a decades-long history of sexual and mental abuse of young women.

[cassafrass]

There are voice recordings of phone calls between RK and one of the women, but I don't think I can stomach listening.

[cassafrass]

"Mack, the star’s former personal assistant, said Kelly almost always tells the women to dress in jogging suits because “he doesn’t want their figures to be exposed; he doesn’t want them to look appealing.” She said when other men are in the same room, Kelly “would make the girls turn around and face the wall in their jogging suits because he doesn’t want them to be looked at by anyone else.”

If the women break any of Kelly’s “rules,” Mack and Jones said, he punishes them physically and verbally. For example, Jones claimed that Kelly held her against a tree and slapped her outside of a Subway sandwich shop in spring 2013 because she had been too friendly with the male cashier there. McGee said she never saw Kelly hit anybody, but also said he was running a “cult” and manipulated her emotionally and sexually."

[allisong]

Jul 17, 2017 10:13:23 GMT -6 cassafrass said:

There are voice recordings of phone calls between RK and one of the women, but I don't think I can stomach listening.

I listened. They're pretty short. The girl is talking to him about music and he's just basically like "I want to focus on you, we can make a hit song anytime."

[Deleted]

This is sickening and so disturbing. WTF is wrong with him?

[cassafrass]

Jul 17, 2017 10:42:27 GMT -6 @nellybluth said:

This is sickening and so disturbing. WTF is wrong with him?

He's a straight up predator. Not that there was ever a doubt but this story is damning.

[Ali7P]

This is incredibly disturbing. The man is a predator and because he's rich and famous he's been getting away with it.

Was he still married to Aaliyah when she died?

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2017 11:15:02 GMT -6 cassafrass said:

Jul 17, 2017 10:42:27 GMT -6 @nellybluth said:

This is sickening and so disturbing. WTF is wrong with him?

He's a straight up predator. Not that there was ever a doubt but this story is damning.

It pisses me off that he continues to get work and support.

[CeeBug]

This makes my stomach churn. It's sick.

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2017 11:27:58 GMT -6 Ali7P said:

This is incredibly disturbing. The man is a predator and because he's rich and famous he's been getting away with it.

Was he still married to Aaliyah when she died?

I don't believe they were still married by then.

[joelies]

Jul 17, 2017 11:27:58 GMT -6 Ali7P said:

This is incredibly disturbing. The man is a predator and because he's rich and famous he's been getting away with it.

Was he still married to Aaliyah when she died?

I remember reading an article about him not so long ago that said that a big part of why he got away with it because he preyed on WOC (really GIRLS) from poor families. Girls that don't matter much in the eyes of the general American public. He knew what he was doing.


ETA: I don't think this was the article but it gets to it: HuffPo link

[Bluebird]

He's gross. I read the article earlier today. It sounds to me like a dom/sub situation, although that is not something I know much about.

[NamasteBirches]

What in the actual fuck. Holy shit.

[catmom88]

This is so disturbing. With this many facts/stories it is most likely true.

[klong11]

Jul 17, 2017 12:11:40 GMT -6 @easilyunamused said:

Jul 17, 2017 11:27:58 GMT -6 Ali7P said:

This is incredibly disturbing. The man is a predator and because he's rich and famous he's been getting away with it.

Was he still married to Aaliyah when she died?

I don't believe they were still married by then.

I think her parents made them get it annulled. 

[claudia]

What a terrible story.

[McBenny]

Jul 17, 2017 12:45:14 GMT -6 klong11 said:

Jul 17, 2017 12:11:40 GMT -6 @easilyunamused said:

I don't believe they were still married by then.

I think her parents made them get it annulled. 

She also had the records expunged and there was an agreement to never speak of it which he has not to this day.

[emilyinparis]

How disgusting. What a creep! I'm so sad for those girls and their families.

[angelashly]

Jul 17, 2017 10:42:27 GMT -6 @nellybluth said:

This is sickening and so disturbing. WTF is wrong with him?

It disgusts me so much.

[cassafrass]

Jul 17, 2017 12:25:56 GMT -6 Bluebird said:

He's gross. I read the article earlier today. It sounds to me like a dom/sub situation, although that is not something I know much about.

That's completely different. In that dynamic power is willingly transferred to one partner and there are clear rules and boundaries. He is purposely targeting young girls hoping to get a career in music and then isolating them. Even if they're old enough to have consent, he is abusing his power.

[McBenny]

The recordings don't sound like anything scandalous at all.

[McBenny]

I am not sure about this. I need more information. I am sure the police can get the security footage if need be. If they thought someone was being held against their will.

Also I am not quite sure how you are being held against your will and all of that but you enroll for college and go live in the dorm. Why would he "allow" you to go?

[Bluebird]

Jul 17, 2017 13:50:47 GMT -6 cassafrass said:

Jul 17, 2017 12:25:56 GMT -6 Bluebird said:

He's gross. I read the article earlier today. It sounds to me like a dom/sub situation, although that is not something I know much about.

That's completely different. In that dynamic power is willingly transferred to one partner and there are clear rules and boundaries. He is purposely targeting young girls hoping to get a career in music and then isolating them. Even if they're old enough to have consent, he is abusing his power.

Thanks for clarifying. I definitely believe he is targeting and grooming young girls and abusing his power. What a sad situation for these girls and their families.

[klong11]

Jul 17, 2017 14:07:02 GMT -6 McBenny said:

I am not sure about this. I need more information. I am sure the police can get the security footage if need be. If they thought someone was being held against their will.

Also I am not quite sure how you are being held against your will and all of that but you enroll for college and go live in the dorm. Why would he "allow" you to go?

She enrolled in college beforehand. She skipped finals and went to live with him shortly after. Or that's how I read it.

Police have gone on "wellbeing" checks, but found nothing amiss.