Disgraced rapper R. Kelly received a 30 year prison sentence after he spent decades preying upon women and girls.
Other prosecutors are lining up to prosecute Kelly for crimes in their own jurisdictions.
However, one of Kelly’s victims claims that he is not a monster — even alleging that he’s her fiance.
Trauma leaves many people more vulnerable to brainwashing. She may actually believe some of what she’s writing.
TMZ reports that Joycelyn Savage wrote a letter to the judge in order to plead for a lighter sentence for R. Kelly.
“I’m writing this letter in support of Robert in advance of his sentencing,” she began.
Joycelyn insisted that this is “so I can explain to the court that I’m not the victim that the government has portrayed me to be.”
Joycelyn outlandishly claimed that R. Kelly is an “all-around incredible person.”
Even worse, she claimed that he is “not the monster that the government has described him to be.”
That is provably false. We hope that Joycelyn will be able to admit that one day.
“Robert and I are deeply in love,” Joycelyn alleged.
“And,” she expressed, “it breaks my heart that the government has created a narrative that I’m a victim.”
“I’m a grown woman and can speak for myself,” Joycelyn wrote.
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Joycelyn unfortunately continued: “which is why I wanted to provide this letter to the court.”
“He is a great man, with a great heart,” Joycelyn mischaracterized.
“And,” she claimed, “deserves to be home with his loved ones who are ready to support him.”
Fortunately, the court did not humor her.
Instead, R. Kelly received a well-heared federal sentence of 30 years.
Prosecutors in other jurisdictions hope to add many years to that sentence when they take him to further trials.
It is not unusual for the victim of unthinkable violence to essentially act brainwashed.
Trauma is a complicated experience, and has profound impacts upon how people thinks, behave, and perceive the world.
We have all heard people defend abusive parents. It is nearly as common to hear the same from an abused partner.
Some have expressed surprise as Joycelyn’s words, and not for lack of understanding of her trauma.
R. Kelly abused and brainwashed many women and girls.
He used threats, violence, starvation, and more to exact control.
But Joycelyn Savage actually spoke out against him years ago.
She began to tell her story online, including how she was only 15 when the notorious predator met her.
At the time, she also acknowledged that she was speaking up for other women.
So, what changed? Probably nothing more than her state of mind — and his desperation.
Abusers are notorious for manipulation, and it’s not all threats.
Between trauma bonding and emotional pleas, he may have convinced her to actually feel sorry for him.
Some speculate that there may have been a financial motive.
Let’s face it — spending so many years of your life emotionally and financially dependent upon a monster does not set you up for success.
We are not in a position to judge what a woman who has endured the horrors of R. Kelly will say to keep the lights on.
Is Joycelyn actually engaged to Kelly? That is unclear.
The alleged news came as a shock to her family, but she has not been in contact with them since she began her time with R. Kelly.
As we said, we hope that Joycelyn and all of Kelly’s other victims can find peace — and truth — despite what happened to them.
