One of the women accusing R Kelly of sexual assault has gone public with her claims as she described the trauma she alleges she experienced at the hands of the music star.
Lanita Carter agreed to sit down with CBS News in America to give details of the abuse she claims to have suffered at the hands of 52-year-old R Kelly.
R Kelly has been accused of a string of crimes in recent months from women who have claimed to have been attacked by the star in the past – however he has denied all the allegations.
Breaking down in tears, the hairdresser explained why she wanted to speak out – revealing herself as one of four women who are accusing the I Believe I Can Fly singer of severe crimes.
“I was sexually abused by him and I live after that. I try to pick up the pieces every day,” Lanita said in a clip from the interview which was teased on Wednesday.
“It’s hard but I know I’ll get through it. I’m not ashamed of my past anymore,” she said.
Explaining the alleged attack, Lanita said it occurred 15 years ago when she worked with Mr Kelly as a hairstylist.
She alleges that the singer attempted to force her to perform oral sex on him before masturbating himself and spat in her face.
The hairstylist was 24 at the time of the alleged incident and claims she handed over her shirt for DNA testing.
She says she is now sharing her experience in search of justice.
“I’ve been carrying this since 2003. I have had to sit on a public bus and watch public conversation: ‘Did you hear about what they did with R. Kelly? They need to leave that man alone.’ And I can’t stand up for myself,” she said.
“I finally realized: I don’t wanna be this victim. I don’t wanna be a part of this,” she added.
Breaking down in tears, Lanita says she hopes sharing her experience will help her finally move on.
“When I finally realized I don’t want to be this victim, I don’t want to be a part of this, every time I tried to pick myself up again, I felt like something on the news brought me back to what I thought I swept under the rug,” she said.
“Today I say: no more. You can talk about me. You can not like what I’m sayin’ about your favorite singer. But this is my life… This is my truth. This is what I have. If I die tomorrow, I know that I told the truth,” she added.