Keke Palmer has denounced her former mentor R Kelly in light of the Lifetime docu-series which details multiple sexual abuse allegations against the musician.
In a post on Instagram, Palmer revealed that she had watch Surviving R Kelly and wanted to share her reaction.
“I have spent the last hour crying. As a student of R. Kelly’s for the time I was and having been around his light and understanding the obstacles he overcame as a child to actually be birthed into the musical genius he is today... All to put others through the same darkness he was running from is the most disheartening thing to accept,” the actor and singer wrote.
“Many people experience hardships and do not allow themselves to find freedom through their passion enough to shine a light.
“R. Kelly received that grace from God. God blessed him to vindicate his childhood shortcomings and yet still he has slapped God in the face by his actions towards these women.
“I am hurt and saddened because he could have been a blessing to these women but instead he repeatedly took advantage and that I cannot accept.”
In the past, Palmer has spoken about receiving advice from Kelly, telling Billboard in 2017: “When I was younger, I always felt like I had to separate [singing and acting]. But I spent a lot of time working with R. Kelly and one thing that he told me, he was like, ‘Keke, you don’t need to shy away from your acting. You bring that to a part of your music. You make that take your music to the next level.’”
According to reports, Kelly is currently under investigation by a Georgia prosecutor following the six-hour series, which included testimony from women accusing Kelly of mental and physical abuse. The musician has categorically denied all allegations against him.
Kelly’s Chicago-based attorney, Steve Greenberg, had said that the accusations in the Lifetime documentary are false.
“Ten and a half years after he was found innocent (at trial of child pornography charges) and to fill reality TV time — someone comes up with another round of stories,” he said in a statement. “No one has found any sex slaves or underage girls because there aren’t any.”
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