Inside R. Kelly’s Cult

Ryan Fredrick, Reporter

The famous singer R. Kelly allegedly started a cult, with at least six women living in his home being treated poorly. Kelly already has infamous associations with unethical sexual practices. He was acquitted in 2008 after a protracted criminal case in which he was accused of urinating on a 13-year-old girl in a video tape, and his illegal 1994 marriage to the then-15-year-old singer Aaliyah has sparked controversy in recent years, according to an article from CNN.com.

“[R. Kelly’s] cult is so creepy. The women are not allowed to contact their families and have to call him daddy,” junior Kelsey Powers said.

Johns Creek police told the AJC that despite the allegations in the story, “no further investigation is being conducted at this time” of Kelly and his alleged practices at his metro Atlanta home.

“If this really did happen, he is a sick man. He has had so much controversy around him over the last couple decades, and this would just be the cherry on top,” senior Phoebe Mitchell said.

Some parents say they have not seen their daughter since December 2016, and have only communicated with them a handful of times since then through text message.

“Mr. Robert Kelly is both alarmed and disturbed at the recent revelations attributed to him. Mr. Kelly unequivocally denies such allegations and will work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name,” according to a claim by Kelly’s attorney, Linda Mensch.

Although Kelly is not facing any criminal charges and is not known to be under investigation, he has been accused of many crimes over the years, which he has denied. The social media campaign #MuteRKelly, which seeks to stop his music from being played and cancel his concerts, launched last year. “Time’s Up” said it would be collaborating with those activists.