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R. Kelly's latest accuser alleges the singer paid her to keep quiet about an abusive, underage sexual relationship

r kelly
r kelly

In the latest R. Kelly-related investigative report by BuzzFeed News, Jerhonda Pace, an alleged victim of the R&B singer, claims she received "cash settlements" from the singer in return for "signing nondisclosure agreements" crafted to cover up a sexual relationship she had with Kelly that turned abusive when she was 16 years old.

Pace, now 24, says she felt the need to violate her nondisclosure agreement to speak out against Kelly following a July report by BuzzFeed News that alleged that the singer was keeping women against their will in a "cult." 

"I didn't have anybody to speak up on my behalf when I was going through what I was going through with him," Pace told the outlet. "He's brainwashed them really bad, and it kind of reminds me of Charles Manson."

One of the women in Kelly's alleged cult has since denied the previous report, saying that she is of age and in a relationship with the singer on her own free will. Kelly's representatives have repeatedly denied all allegations.

According to the new report, Pace met R. Kelly outside of his 2008 child-pornography trial. As a 15-year-old fan of Kelly's, she says she faked being 18 to sneak into the trial, and she even defended the singer to MTV News while standing outside of the courtroom. After R. Kelly was acquitted of all charges in the trial, Pace says that a friend of the singer's invited her to a party at his home in Olympia Fields, Illinois. She then began an allegedly abusive relationship with Kelly as a 16-year old. 

Pace alleges that the singer would film their sexual encounters and make her ask permission "to shower, eat, go to the bathroom, and leave the property" of his mansion. When she violated his "rules," Pace says she was "mentally and physically abused," according to BuzzFeed.

Pace left the relationship in 2010 after an alleged instance of abuse, and she contacted Susan E. Loggans, a Chicago lawyer. Pace claims the lawyer "negotiated a large settlement with Kelly" in return for her signing "a nondisclosure agreement and declining to pursue any charges or other claims against Kelly."

Though her agreement included a "non-disparagement clause," Pace is speaking out against Kelly for the first time, and she says she is now considering filing criminal charges against the singer. 

Kelly's camp has since refuted the claims with the following statement:

"The allegations against Mr. Kelly are false, and are being made by individuals known to be dishonest. It is clear these continuing stories are the result of the effort of those with personal agendas who are working in concert to interfere with and damage his career. Mr. Kelly again denies any and all wrong doing and is taking appropriate legal action to protect himself from ongoing defamation."

You can read BuzzFeed News' full interview with Pace here.

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