Underage Woman Paid by R. Kelly to Keep Silent Speaks Out About Her Alleged Abuse

"I know speaking out against Kelly, Kelly could sue me. But I’m really not worried about it anymore."

R. Kelly
Getty

Image via Getty/Noam Galai

R. Kelly

Buzzfeed has published a new and disturbing report in which Jerhonda Pace alleges that R. Kelly physically abused her. Pace, who at the time was known as Jerhonda Johnson​, was 15 when she met Kelly and 16 when they began having sexual relations. Pace, which is her married name, was given an undisclosed sum of money in exchange for the signing of a non-disclousre agreement. 

The currently 24-year-old mother of three has broken the agreement out of concern for other women still being abused by ​the 50-year-old R&B star. ​Sources say that Pace's then 17-year-old-friend still lives with Kelly. 

Being a fan of the singer, Pace attended his 2008 child pornography trial. It was there that the two met. An employee and friend of Kelly then friended Pace on Myspace and invited her to a party at the singer's Olympia Fields, Illinois mansion. While at the party, Kelly asked for Pace's phone number. Shortly after, Kelly invited Pace back to his mansion. Pace lied to the singer, informing him that she was 19-years-old. She was 16. Illinois' age of consent is 17. On her second visit she says that Kelly instructed her to "undress for him [and] walk back and forth like I was modeling." Pace says the two had oral sex. 

The two allegedly continued to have sex in the following months. Pace also alleged that Kelly filmed the sex without permission. 

"I had to call him ‘daddy,’ and he would call me ‘baby.’ He wanted me to have two pigtails, and I had to go out and find little schoolgirl outfits."

On July 17, 2009 Pace says she informed Kelly of her real age, 16, and provided state ID. Pace said that Kelly responded by telling her that it was okay but to tell anyone that inquired about her age that she was 19. He also told her to act as if she was 25. 

Pace alleges she faced physical abuse from the singer. Pace recalled one incident that occurred in 2010 after Kelly grew angry that she was texting a friend. "I was slapped and I was choked and I was spit on." Pace also alleged that Kelly forced her to ask permission to use the bathroom, eat, shower, or leave the property. 

"I know speaking out against Kelly, Kelly could sue me. But I’m really not worried about it anymore," Pace said. She continued "I feel like this is a healing process for me, because I've been holding this in for so many years, and to see that he always gets away with it, it’s just not right. I’m just going forward with my head held high."  

Journalist Jim DeRogatis authored the piece as well has the previous viral article in which parents allege the singer is holding their children in a "cult." R. Kelly recently hired Monique Pressley, a lawyer who previously represented Bill Cosby in his sexual assault case.

Read the full article on Buzzfeed

Latest in Music