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R. Kelly's Ex-Wife Andrea Kelly Writes Open Letter After Speaking Out About Alleged Abuse
Andrea Kelly recently alleged that her ex-husband R. Kelly abused her during their marriage.
R. Kelly’s ex-wife Andrea Kelly is taking a stand against victim-shaming online.
Andrea Kelly, a dancer, choreographer, and actress, alleged during an interview with TV One’s Sister Circle talk show last month that the “Ignition” singer abused her during their 13-year marriage, People reports. Andrea Kelly, 44, choreographed and danced for a number of R. Kelly’s tours, Essence reports, and is one of numerous women who have recently accused the 51–year-old singer of abuse, claims which R. Kelly has repeatedly denied.
Andrea Kelly’s decision to share her story has led to backlash, she revealed during an Instagram post on Sunday.
In a lengthy message, Andrea Kelly thanked her supporters and called out those who shame victims of abuse, writing, “To the ones that come on my page to spew venom and #victimshame You are by far the biggest supporter of my abuser.”
Andrea Kelly then wrote about why it’s so harmful to shame victims.
“By you shaming me and any other victims you’re helping the abuser accomplish their task of belittling, intimidating, and discounting all the abuse they’ve put the #victim and #victims through! PERIOD! No two ways about it!” she continued. “I almost allowed you and your hate to overshadow all the LOVE AND SUPPORT I RECEIVE. But you WILL NOT stop me from saving lives and giving hope to those who are where I was.”
Andrea Kelly appears to take a bit of an activist stance.
“I AM A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS,” she wrote. “I am a #SURVIVOR OF SEUXAL ABUSE *EMOTIONAL ABUSE* PHYSICAL ABUSE *ECONOMIC ABUSE at the hands of my EX husband.”
During her Sister Circle interview, Andrea Kelly, a domestic violence awareness advocate, revealed that she’d contemplated suicide during her time with R. Kelly. She said that it was her faith that helped her overcome her situation.
“That day, I just remember playing sick all day,” she said. “And I went and got in the bed, and I was like, ‘Okay, what are you going to do? What are you going to do?’ And something just said, ‘End it.’ That was my first answer: ‘End it.’”
[Photo: Andrea Kelly in Chicago, Illinois on May 8, 2010. By Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images]
