According to court documents recently filed, R. Kelly threatened to publicly humiliate one of his alleged victims should she continue pressing charges against him. The singer claimed he would have arranged for 10 witnesses to testify about the victim's sex life, and would unearth her medical records, per Page Six.
Kelly's threats were directed at Faith Rodgers, who filed a lawsuit in May 2018 accusing the singer of sexual battery and intentionally infecting her with herpes when she was 19-years-old. Kelly wrote a signed letter in Oct. 2018 addressed to Rodgers' lawyer Lydia Hills. "Please advise Ms. Rodgers, your client, to abandon this heartless effort to try to destroy my musical legacy for selfish, personal enrichment. If she persists in court action she will be subjected to public opinion during the discovery process."
The defamed singer, who is currently facing 10 counts of felony criminal sexual abuse in Chicago, laid out his threats in the signed letter. “My law team is prepared to request the production of the medical test results proving the origin of her STD claim, as well as 10 personal male witnesses testifying under oath about her sex life in support of her claim." The letter continues by alleging that Kelly and Rodgers communicated often prior to their sexual encounter.
During a press conference in January, Rodgers acknowledged Kelly's intimidation efforts, asserting that victims should not be harassed or targeted when standing up against their attackers. "No one should be victim-shamed, harassed or retaliated against because she asserted her rights and spoke her truth," Rodgers said. "Robert Kelly, the Faith Rodgers you knew, that you met when you were 19 years old, no longer exists ... the 21-year-old Faith Rodgers you are seeing now is much wiser and much stronger."
Kelly has continuously denied the allegations against him. Most recently, the singer conducted an interview with CBS' Gayle King in which he dismissed the claims as "rumors" and started shouting when King asserted Kelly has a history of using predatory tactics on young girls.
