Two more women allege abuse by R. Kelly

R Kelly.
(Image credit: Mike Pont/Getty Images)

R. Kelly's list of of accusers just got longer.

Two women came forward with allegations of the singer's abuse in a BuzzFeed News report published Friday.

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Martinez claims that Kelly physically abused her during a four-year relationship that began when she was 17 years old in the 1990s, when Kelly was 28. Michelle spoke of her daughter, identified as "N," who is allegedly being "brainwashed" to stay in Kelly's "cult." Michelle says that Kelly started dating "N" when she was 16, and that he won't let her contact her family anymore.

In a Friday statement to The Associated Press, Kelly denied the allegations, claiming that they were "perpetuated by the media" in an "attempt to distort my character."

The latest allegations come just days after the Time's Up movement began a campaign to "Mute R. Kelly." Advocates are pushing for industry leaders to cut ties with the R&B singer over his abuse allegations, and calling for people to boycott his music. In response to the demand for a criminal investigation, Kelly released a statement calling the campaign an "attempted public lynching of a black man who has made extraordinary contributions to our culture." Read more at BuzzFeed News.

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Summer Meza, The Week US

Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.