R. Kelly is being accused of running a cult where he holds young women against their will, controls every aspect of their lives, and films their sexual encounters, according to a Buzzfeed report on Monday. One associate says “he is a master at mind control.” The new report claims that the young women became ‘brainwashed’ in R. Kelly’s world after being brought to him by their parents in an effort to further their musical careers. According to parents and the former associates, R. Kelly has several young women living in his rental homes in Atlanta and Chicago and subjects them to the following treatment:
- He replaces their cell phones with ones specifically used to communicate with him and forbids them to contact their families
- He requires they call him “daddy” and ask permission to leave the studio or their residences;
- He films their sexual encounters with him
- He abuses them physically and verbally
R Kelly has denied allegations that he is holding several young women in an "abusive cult". The singer's lawyer said he would work "diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name".