R Kelly Has Sexual Allegations RE-Opened

A string of sexual allegations against R. Kelly have been revisited in a new interview in the Village Voice with writer Jim DeRogatis.

DeRogatis, who first broke word of the allegations against Kelly 15 years ago when he wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times, says the public never fully appreciated the scope of the charges. He claims that, though public perception was that Kelly had been inappropriate with "one girl and Aaliyah," in truth he was accused of molesting almost two dozen young women.

DeRogatis says the numerous lawsuits filed against Kelly -- none of which went to court -- included: 

• A 14- or 15-year-old girl who said Kelly had sex with her while she was a sophomore at Chicago's Kenwood Academy. The girl claimed she recruited classmates to have group sex with Kelly at his request, after which they were sometimes given sneakers. The girl added that after Kelly dumped her, she attempted suicide.

• A high school senior who Kelly took to her prom. After he impregnated her, the teen claimed that Kelly forced her to get an abortion.

• A high school student who sued Kelly for having underage sex with him later disappeared to the South of France for several months with her family. Her father, despite not being a musician, was also credited with playing bass on one of Kelly's later songs.

DeRogatis adds, "I had Aaliyah's mother cry on my shoulder and say her daughter's life was ruined. Aaliyah's life was never the same after that."

DeRogatis believes that had any of Kelly's victim's been white, it's likely that the story would have received much more media attention. "The saddest fact I've learned is: Nobody matters less to our society than young black women. Nobody. They have any complaint about the way they are treated, they are 'bitches, hos, and gold diggers,' plain and simple. Kelly never misbehaved with a single white girl who sued him or that we know of."