- The Washington Times - Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Joycelyn Savage, a 22-year-old member of R. Kelly’s alleged “sex cult,” granted an interview to the entertainment website TMZ Monday night to address the issue.

A BuzzFeed story published Monday titled “Inside the Pied Piper of R&B’s ’Cult’ ” claims R. Kelly has a harem of “brainwashed” sex slaves housed in Atlanta and Chicago. The story hinges on the testimony of two sets of parents in Florida and Georgia. Ms. Savage, however, refuted her parents’ claims after the story captured national media attention.

“I just mainly want to say that I am in a happy place with my life,” Ms. Savage told TMZ. “I’m not being brainwashed or anything like that. It just came to a point where it definitely has gotten out of hand. I just want everybody to know, my parents and everybody in the world, that I am totally fine.”

“Are you with other roommates? Are you free to go from where you are?” TMZ asked during the online interview.

“I won’t speak on that,” Ms. Savage replied.

The woman told TMZ that she has not spoken to her parents in “five or six months” due to their ongoing questions and concerns.

“Mr. Robert Kelly is both alarmed and disturbed at the recent revelations attributed to him,” the singer’s attorney, Linda Mensch, also said in a statement released Monday. “Mr. Kelly unequivocally denies such allegations and will work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name.”

• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.

Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.

Click to Read More and View Comments

Click to Hide