Before Jim DeRogatis’ Buzzfeed story alleging R. Kelly keeps an "abusive cult" of women while controlling various aspects of their life, DeRogatis regularly wrote about Kelly facing accusations of sex with teenage girls for the Chicago Sun-Times. One can assume Southside Chicago product Vic Mensa is familiar with the accusations that have followed Kelly for years, because Vic didn’t pull any punches when asked for his opinions on the 50-year-old singer.
“Fuck R. Kelly,” Vic told TMZ when asked about the fellow Chicagoan. “R. Kelly is a scumbag and a very dirty man. He needs to be locked away forever.”
Kelly has repeatedly denied the claims of him leading a cult of women, calling them “a bunch of crap.” He has also threatened legal action.
DeRogatis has written about Kelly since at least 2000, citing court records as well as public and private sources.
“Illinois state statute prohibits adult men from having sex with girls under 17, but prosecutions must be brought within three years of the act,” DeRogatis wrote in a piece for the Sun-Times published in 2000. “Kelly never has been charged in connection with any of his relationships with minors, and the statute of limitations is now past for several of these relationships. Chicago police twice have investigated allegations that Kelly was having sex with an underage female but dropped the investigations because the girl would not cooperate.”
The candid Kelly-related quote wasn’t the only thing TMZ managed to get from Mensa. The rapper said he holds no grudge against Justin Bieber for cancelling his recent Purpose Tour. Vic Mensa was scheduled to tour alongside Bieber for the remaining 14 tour dates.
“People want to make money, but at the end of the day, we’re people and shit,” Vic added. “Bieber’s been on tour for what, two-and-a-half years straight touring the same album? That can be exhausting.”
Vic Mensa said he will still hit the road, and an announcement for tour dates is forthcoming.
