Page 29 - ARUBA TODAY

A29
PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 23 May 2018
Woman accuses R. Kelly of sexual battery, giving her herpes

By The Associated Press son, Celine Dion, Aaliyah
NEW YORK (AP) — A woman and more, has crafted pop
has filed a lawsuit against anthems and love songs
R. Kelly, accusing the singer but he is defined by sexu-
of sexual battery, knowing- ally explicit songs such as
ly infecting her with herpes "Feelin' on Yo Booty," ''Your
and locking her in rooms for Body's Calling Me," ''Sex
punishment. Me" and even more explicit
Faith Rodgers says in the suit fare.
filed Monday in New York He has long been ac-
that she met Kelly about a cused of behavior that
year ago after a concert has ranged from question-
in San Antonio, Texas. The able to criminal. He wed
20-year-old says that dur- a 15-year-old protege,
ing their relationship Kelly the late R&B star Aaliyah,
"mentally, sexually and ver- in 1994. The marriage was
bally" abused her. later annulled and the two
Kelly's management team refused to confirm that it
declined to comment Tues- even happened.
day. He was later accused of
R. Kelly is one of pop music's child pornography after a
best-selling artists, with hits widely circulated video-
including "Ignition," ''I Be- tape appeared to show
lieve I Can Fly," and "Bump him having sex with, and
N' Grind." urinating on, a teenage
Rodgers, who appeared girl. He was acquitted of all
Tuesday on "CBS This Morn- charges in 2008 and con-
ing," said Kelly instructed tinued to rack up hits and
her to call him "daddy" and sell out stadiums around
told her his goal was to the country.
teach her how to have sex In recent years, as more
like a "mature woman." women have come for-
She said Kelly visited her ho- ward to allege misconduct,
tel room after he flew her to protests against Kelly have
New York to attend a show increased.
and she "submitted" to sex. A woman told Rolling Stone
"I didn't really say anything. last year that she was in a
I kinda just froze up," she long-term relationship with
said. "I definitely was un- the singer that was sexually
comfortable. But he has and physically abusive.
this type of, like, intimida- Parents claimed their
tion right off the bat. You FILE - In this June 30, 2013, file photo, R. Kelly performs onstage at the BET Awards at the Nokia daughter was being held
know? So I was just waiting Theatre in Los Angeles. by Kelly as part of a sex
for it to be over." cult but their daughter,
Rodgers said situations like Earlier this month, Spotify, behavior, which has come 20 years, women across who was of age, denied
that occurred "multiple citing its new policy on under closer scrutiny over America have been victim- their claims. And recently
times." hate content and hate- the last year in wake of ized by defendant, R. Kelly, a woman in Dallas filed a
The lawsuit says Kelly "disre- ful conduct, removed the the #MeToo movement, and have filed eerily similar lawsuit against the singer
garded specific statements R&B singer's music from its as women have come claims." claiming he gave her a sex-
made by plaintiff that she promoted playlists and al- forward to accuse him of The Associated Press does ually transmitted disease,
was 'not ready to have sex'" gorithms following a cam- everything from sexual co- not typically identify peo- and she claimed he was
with him. paign from #MuteRKelly ercion to physical abuse. ple who say they are vic- grooming her to be a part
"After initiating non-permis- and others to sanction him. Kelly has denied wrongdo- tims of sexual assault unless of a sex cult.
sive, painful and abusive The Time's Up campaign ing. they decide to make their Kelly has denied the alle-
sex with plaintiff, defen- took aim at R. Kelly late "Unfortunately, the facts names public, which Rodg- gations against him.
dant, R. Kelly, immediately last month over allega- and background of this ers has done. An appearance at a con-
insulted and criticized" Rod- tions that he has sexually case are not unique," said Kelly, who has won multiple cert in his native Chica-
gers "concerning her 'lack abused women. The orga- Rodgers' lawsuit. "This is a Grammys, sold close to 30 go scheduled earlier this
of participation' and physi- nization urged further in- run-of-the-mill R. Kelly sex- million albums and has writ- month was canceled after
cal inadequacies." vestigation into the singer's ual abuse case. For over ten hits for Michael Jack- protests.q

Drummer accused of stealing from Fats Domino won't be tried

HARVEY, La. (AP) — Prose- The Advocate of New Or- day it didn't have sufficient Domino. The singer and pi- coins and Domino's 1986
cutors won't pursue charg- leans reports that Jefferson evidence. anist born Antoine Domino passport.
es against a drummer ac- Parish District Attorney Paul Adonica Domino reported Jr. passed away at age 89 Fontenot's attorney Mi-
cused of stealing rare coins Connick's office dropped her father's silver coins sto- seven months ago. chael Smith said the items
and a passport from famed the case against 65-year- len last July, and said she A detective determined were gifts from Domino,
New Orleans musician Fats old Ernest "Box" Fontenot. suspected Fontenot. He Fontenot sold an antiques who Fontenot began play-
Domino. Connick's office said Mon- had been helping care for firm more than 200 $1 silver ing drums for in the 1980s.q