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For the past month or so, R. Kelly’s ex-wife Andrea Kelly has been speaking out about the alleged abuse that she suffered from the singer.
Since then, she’s received support from others who’ve said they’ve been abused and from those who just empathize.
But there were some, mostly devoted R. Kelly fans, who bad-mouthed Andrea and said her abuse claims are false — mainly because it took her 10 years to speak out.
“Awww, Drea finally getting the attention she been seeking,” one person tweeted.
“You still using R. Kelly’s last name after a remarriage but claim you wanna be free,” wrote someone else.
On Tuesday (July 17), Andrea responded to her naysayers and accused them of victim shaming. She also said while those same people continue to bash her, they empower her ex-husband and make it harder for other victims to speak out.
“First, I’d like to say thank you to all my #Dreamers and those who support me on this journey,” wrote Andrea. “To the ones that come on my page to spew venom and #victimshame, you are by far the biggest supporter of my abuser. 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.”
Some who defended Andrea pointed to the fact that a number of abuse victims take a while to speak out due to fear, and during a recent interview Andrea said that’s the reason she kept quiet.
Then in a separate interview, she detailed some of the alleged abuse and said the singer once tied her up and went to sleep. He also made her call him daddy, she claimed.
In her Instagram post, Andrea said she refuses to back down from her detractors, because she’s now on a mission to help other abuse victims.
“I am a voice for the voiceless,” she wrote. “I am a survivor of sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, economic abuse at the hands of my ex-husband.”
You can see Andrea’s full message below, as well as comments from others.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlPJscoBcSI/?hl=en&taken-by=officialdreakelly
I was always wondering whether anything happened to you also. I’m happy you said something time to heal all of the abuse we as women go through openly. Praying for your solace sending love my sistah!!
— Socorro Polanco (@PolancoSocorro) June 16, 2018
GURRRLLLLL YOU ARE A STRONG SISTER!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤. Being VULNERABLE shows how BRAVE you truly are. Love and Light.
— patrice walker (@tricelibraluv) June 16, 2018
Glad that you found the courage to walk away and speak up
— 2Boricua (@imayra21) June 17, 2018
@DreaKelly u still usuing @rkelly last name after a remarriage
but u claim u wanna be free…BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE pic.twitter.com/mI7CN3jOUl— CurryDynasty (@CurryDynasty) June 16, 2018
Alot of women keep the same last name of their children for stability until they remarry, Like Tina Knowles. She didn’t go back to her maiden name, it changed when she got married again to Lawson.
— Abena_Maanu (@PassioNetteLuv) June 17, 2018
Why did she wait all these years to say something?!!!!
— TARAMSFABULOUS (@TARA19385993) June 16, 2018
Im wondering if she wanted to wait till the kids were old enough to handle the media.
— Abena_Maanu (@PassioNetteLuv) June 17, 2018
