R Kelly accusers receive standing ovation at Variety’s Power of Women event

‘My goal is to get one woman home and one girl home one day at a time’, Asante McGee says

Three woman who have accused singer R Kelly of sexual abuse and misconduct received a standing ovation as they took to the stage at an awards ceremony.

Kitti Jones, Asante McGee and Lisa Van Allen all of whom featured in the six-part Lifetime documentary Surviving R Kelly, introduced themselves as “survivors” at the Power of Women event in New York run by Variety magazine.

The series detailed numerous allegations against Kelly, all of which he has denied.

Ms McGee, who says she dated Kelly for just over two years, said how she used to be a “diehard fan” of the R&B singer.

The author of No Longer Trapped In The Closet: The Asante McGee Story explained how the nature of their relationship changed when Kelly moved her into his house.

“It wasn’t until he moved me into his house, week two of living in his house I met Robert,” Ms McGee said, in reference to Kelly’s full name Robert Kelly. ”I’ve said over and over there is a difference between R Kelly and Robert. Robert is the devil.”

After leaving Kelly’s home, Ms McGee says she contacted the parents of girls still living in the house with the singer to “let them know what was going on”.

Ms McGee previously claimed that Kelly controlled “every aspect” of the lives of the women living in his home with him, including “what they eat, how they dress, when they bathe, when they sleep, and how they engage in sexual encounters that he records”.

During her speech at the Power of Women event, Ms McGee said she’s received “a lot of negativity” for coming forward with her story.

The author added that she is going to “continue this journey” and that she will “not be silenced”.

She said: “My goal is to get one woman home and one girl home one day at a time.”

Ms Van Allen explained that many people refused to believe her story when she spoke out against Kelly in 2008, as they “acted as if [she] was on trial”.

Ms Jones also added that it’s been “very empowering and liberating” for the women who have made allegations against Kelly to “know that [they’re] being heard”.

You can contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline by calling 0808 802 9999. The helpline is open from 12pm-2.30pm and 7pm-9.30pm daily.