R. Kelly 'abuse cult' allegations: Woman thought to be trapped speaks out to say she is fine

Sensational claims: R Kelly has denied running an abusive sex cult
EPA/JASON SZENES
Eleanor Rose18 July 2017

A 21-year-old woman whose family say she is being held as part of an abusive sex cult run by R. Kelly has spoken out to say she is fine.

Joycelyn Savage dismissed the sensational claims, made at a Monday press conference by her mother, father and sister, that she had been "brainwashed" and held hostage.

She told website TMZ that far from being a captive, she was "in a happy place", although she added that she had not spoken to her parents for five months.

"I'm 21, I'm about to be 22 in a few days and I just mainly want to say that I am in a happy place with my life and I'm not being brainwashed or anything like that," said Ms Savage.

"It just came to a point where it definitely has got out of hand. I'm totally fine. I'm happy where I'm at and everything is OK with me."

Responding to claims she was being held against her will, she said: "Oh no, nothing like that. I've never felt like a hostage or anything like that."

Addressing the worry of family and friends, she said: "I'm very heartbroken over what's going on with this situation because it's getting to a point where it's getting too much.

"It's just not right."

However, she refused to answer questions about her whereabouts and whether she is "free to go" from the house.

Ms Savage's family believe she is being held by Mr Kelly as part of a sex slave cult - a claim he has strongly denied.

A representative for Mr Kelly told TMZ he was "alarmed and disturbed" by a report published by Buzzfeed on Monday that details allegations by the families of three women who claim the 50-year-old singer-songwriter is holding them.

Three former members of Mr Kelly's inner circle said in the article that as many as six women were being held and that he was "dictating what [his captives] eat, how they dress, when they bathe, when they sleep, and how they engage in sexual encounters that he records."

Mr Kelly's representative has said: "Mr Kelly unequivocally denies such accusations and will work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name."

Buzzfeed's report, which the organisation has said it stands by, is not the first claim of sexual misconduct to be made against the singer-songwriter.

The R&B artist was acquitted in 2008 of 14 charges of making child pornography after footage emerged allegedly showing him having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

He has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and is known for his hits including I Believe I Can Fly.

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