R. Kelly's Fourth Accuser Alleges She Was Raped By The Disgraced Singer Backstage When She Was 17
Aug. 30 2021, Published 1:43 p.m. ET
R. Kelly’s trial continued on Monday morning and a fourth accuser took the stand, telling the jury the disgraced singer allegedly raped her when she was underage.
According to The New York Times, the woman was only identified by her first name, Addie. The outlet also reported that Addie told the court how she was only 17 at the time of the alleged incident, which she says took place backstage after a concert where R. Kelly was the closing act.
According to the outlet, the newest accuser testified that the incident in question occurred in September 1994. The victim and her best friend were attending a concert in Miami where the R&B star Aaliyah had been scheduled to perform and R. Kelly was the closing act. According to other witnesses’ testimony throughout the trial, the two artists performing that night were illegally married two days earlier — Aaliyah was 15 at the time, and R. Kelly was 27.
After R. Kelly’s performance, Addie claims two men approached her and her friend and told them they could go backstage for an autograph from the singer. The two men apparently “looked like bouncers,” Addie told the court.
Addie then told jurors that the two were taken to a large dressing room. She claimed R. Kelly gave her his autograph, which is when she told him she was “an aspiring artist.” He then reportedly gave her his room number at a hotel and encouraged her to come audition. She claims she told him she was only 17 years old and that she didn’t know if she was even allowed to be backstage.
Addie then testified that R. Kelly cleared the room. He allegedly told the pair that “he wanted to play a game” to see “who could kiss better.” He allegedly kissed her friend, then began to kiss Addie too.
“He started getting a little more aggressive,” Addie told the court. He then directed her to the back of the room, where Addie claims R. Kelly held her wrists, pulled down her pants, and had unprotected sex with her. “At this point, I was in complete shock,” she testified. “I just went blank.”
After the alleged incident, Addie and her best friend reportedly “ran out of there.” Addie claims her friend told her to contact the police and press charges, but she feared she would be blacklisted from the entertainment industry if she did.
“I didn’t even know if they would believe me,” she said. “I didn’t want to be victim-shamed.”
This all comes on the eighth day of R. Kelly’s sex trafficking trial. These latest reports come in the wake of bombshell accusations made during the trial last week, such as reports that the disgraced singer allegedly made his victims eat feces on video as a punishment for breaking his rules.