R Kelly’s former hairdresser has chosen to breach a confidentiality agreement she had with the star to speak out against him.
Lanita Carter has accused Kelly of subjecting her to sexual abuse back in 2003, choosing to break her silence after seeing his interview on CBS’ This Morning with Gayle King.
Kelly had appeared on the show to protest his innocence after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He has denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Carter is believed to be one of the four victims accusing Kelly of sexual abuse; the other three have not been identified.
She claims the singer tried to force her into giving him oral sex; when she refused, Kelly allegedly spat in her face while masturbating.
Carter says she contacted the police the same day of the alleged assault and they ‘found Kelly’s semen’ on her shirt.
Speaking publicly for the first time on CBS News, Carter has said she is ‘not ashamed of her past anymore’. She claims she is speaking out after watching Kelly ‘lie’ about the claims made against him during his TV appearance.
‘It’s actually the reason I’m here,’ she said. ‘I was sexually abused by him and I live after that. I try to pick up the pieces every day. It’s hard but I know I’ll get through it. I’m not ashamed of my past any more.’
Carter continued: ‘This is a relief. I’ve been carrying this since 2003.
‘I’ve had to sit on a public bus and watch public conversation, “Did you hear about what they did to R Kelly? They need to leave that man alone,” and I can’t stand up for myself.
‘I’ve finally realised, I don’t want to be a victim, I don’t want to be a part of this.’
She allegedly received two confidential settlements from Kelly. He denied the allegations made by Carter and is believed to have paid her $650,000 to keep quiet.
Carter reportedly received a second confidential settlement of $100,000 after Kelly released a song called Hair Braider, in which he sings about having sex with his hairdresser.
Kelly’s lawyer Steve Greenberg responded to Carter’s interview to CNN and said the singer had been on bail over a 2002 child pornography case at time Carter claims the alleged assault took place.
If Kelly had been charged, his bail would have been revoked and he would have gone to jail. Kelly was acquitted.
Greenberg told the US news outlet: ‘Chicago police did an extensive investigation… the [State’s Attorney’s] office decided not to charge up. I think that speaks volumes about the strength of the case.
‘Unfortunately our rules restrict any more in-depth discussion of the facts of a now pending case.’
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