R Kelly’s accuser breaks silence after 16 years: “I’m not ashamed anymore”

One of the anonymous accusers in the sex abuse case against R Kelly has waived her right to anonymity and spoken publicly for the first time. 

Lanita Carter – who worked as Kelly’s hairdresser in 2003 when she was 24-years-old – claimed he abused her on one occasion during that time.

Kelly, who is currently out on bail after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four alleged victims, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. 

Carter braided the rapper’s hair for almost a year, and considered Kelly as not just a friend, but more like “an older brother”.

The alleged abuse took place on February 18, 2003 when R Kelly called Lanita to do his hair and asked for a head massage. 

When she said she didn’t perform the massage, Lanita claimed R Kelly (real name Robert Kelly) forcefully pulled her head down by her braid and  told her to “S**k it for daddy.”

Carter alleged when she said no and put her hand in front of her face, the singer spat on her six times. 

She claimed the incident stopped only because some knocked on the door, to which Kelly shouted “Fix your face. Fix your m****r f*****g face.”

Carter said she called the police the same day, and claimed investigating cops found Kelly’s semen on her shirt. 

Charges were not filed, and Carter agreed to a $650,000 settlement (£498,000) with Kelly less than a year later. 

The hairdresser decided to speak out after watching Kelly’s explosive interview with Gayle King, in which he stated his accusers were “trying to kill” him, and the claims were “not true”.

She claimed: ““I been carrying this since 2003. I don’t want to be in the public, but this is my life. 

“If I die tomorrow, I know that I told the truth. I’m not ashamed anymore.” 

Daily Star Online has contacted R Kelly’s spokesman for comment.