The Pussycat Dolls deny 'prostitution ring' claims by Kaya Jones

The Pussycat Dolls have issued a joint statement denying allegations by a former member who compared the group to a “prostitution ring”.

Kaya Jones, who left the girl group after two years in 2005 before they signed a record deal, claimed that she and other members were regularly abused by music industry members.

“My truth,” she wrote in a post on social media, “I wasn't in a girl group. I was in a prostitution ring. Oh and we happened to sing and be famous. While everyone who owned us made the [money].

“How bad was it? People ask - bad enough that I walked away from my dreams, band mates and a $14m [£9.7m] record deal. We knew we were going to #1.”

The Pussycat Dolls have now responded with a statement denying the claims, saying the group has “always and will always stand for female empowerment and sisterhood”.

The statement also notes that, while the group stand by any woman who has been abused and spoken out on the matter, they could not stand by “false” words and activities that “simply did not take place”.

“To liken our professional roles in The Pussycat Dolls to a prostitution ring not only undermines everything we worked hard to achieve for all those years but also takes the spotlight off the millions of victims who are speaking up and being heard loud and clear around the world,” they said.

“While we were not aware of Kaya's experiences that allegedly took place during her short time working with us, before the group signed a recording contract, we can firmly testify that we were not privy to any misconduct taking place around us.

“If Kaya experienced something we are unaware of then we fully encourage her to get the help she needs and are here to support her.”

The Pussycat Dolls were formed in 2003 by Robin Antin and led by Nicole Scherzinger, with other prominent members including Kimberly Wyatt, Ashley Roberts and Melody Thornton.

Antin, who appeared to be referenced by Jones as the “den mother from hell” in her claims on social media, also denied the allegations, calling them “disgusting, ridiculous lies”.

She claimed Jones was “clearly looking for her 15 minutes” and said she was never an official member of the group.

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