R. Kelly’s “girlfriend” Joycelyn Savage issued a statement about her posts calling out the singer’s abuse
This post discusses sexual abuse.
Update, December 5th, 9:20 a.m. ET: After a series of posts appeared on her Patreon account accusing R. Kelly of emotional and psychological abuse, the singer’s “girlfriend” Joycelyn Savage is now saying she was hacked. In a new video posted to Instagram, Savage read a statement from her iPhone in support of Kelly.
Before the allegedly fraudulent posts appeared on Patreon, Savage’s Instagram account hinted that she would be releasing information about the singer and would be “risking [her] life for many others.” That post is still live.
In the wake of this news, Savage’s family and family’s attorney put out a statement saying they fear she is being controlled.
“We’re saddened and disappointed to learn that Joycelyn Savage has said that she was not the person operating the Patreon account,” said attorney Gerald Griggs in a statement from the family.
Kelly is currently facing five federal charges, two sex-crime charges in Minnesota, a 13-count indictment in Illinois, including for enticing a minor and child pornography, and 10 separate charges of aggravated sexual abuse
Original post, November 25th: On November 23rd, Joycelyn Savage, one of R. Kelly’s supposed “girlfriends,” stepped forward to accuse the singer of sexual and psychological abuse. Twenty-four-year-old Savage, who began living with Robert Kelly at the age of 19, outlined her history with Kelly and how she became involved with him via three separate posts to a Patreon page.
“Robert would always look at me in a sexual way the first couple of times we met occasionally,” Savage wrote, according to Variety. She said Kelly promised her in 2015 that he would make her into the next Aaliyah, whom Kelly illegally married in 1994 when she was 15.
Savage wrote, “He would say it exactly like this ‘Baby girl you are going to be the next Aaliyah.’”
However, as Savage outlined in her posts, the few songs that she recorded with Kelly during her time living with him were never taken outside the studio. “Robert told me soo many lies, my 19 year old mind believed every one of one them,” she continued, adding that after she fell in love with Kelly, he became more and more aggressive with her.
There has yet to be confirmation that these posts were written by Savage. But both her family’s lawyers and Kelly’s lawyers have responded to the Patreon page.
Savage herself hinted via social media that she would be dropping bombshell testimony that could put her life at risk.
Until recently, Savage had been one of Kelly’s biggest defenders. She spoke on his behalf in an interview with Gayle King and also attended Kelly’s New York City arraignment in August. Kelly has been indicted on several counts of sexual assault and abuse, spanning three states.
On Sunday, November 24th, Gerald Griggs, Savage’s parents’ lawyer, made a statement to The New York Times:
Savage was reportedly not allowed to have private phone conversations with her parents while in Kelly’s home, and in 2017, she made a video telling the public via a TMZ video that she was alright and “not being brainwashed.” Savage now states that she was starved until she learned all her pre-written lines to make that TMZ video.
#JoycelynSavage first chapter on her relationship with #RKelly 👀 pic.twitter.com/QIxv4RIFg4
— bajanbrownbeauty🇧🇧 (@darkcocoa_69) November 23, 2019
Kelly’s attorney disputes the claims made on Patreon in a statement to Variety. “It is unfortunate that Jocelyn now seeks to make money by exploiting her long time, loving relationship with Robert,” Steve Greenberg said.
According to Savage, she stayed with Kelly because she was afraid and “delusional.” She wrote on her Patreon, “I kept thinking to myself he just wants me to be safe, he wants the best for me he thinks someone is going to take me away from him. But it was me being delusional.”
As more of her story continues to unfold, we hope Savage is safe and secure in her current situation.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault or know someone else who is, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
