A witness testifies about the alleged abuse endured during her relationship with singer R. Kelly.
R. Kelly appears in court for a hearing to request that he be allowed to travel to Dubai at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on March 22, 2019 in Chicago.
Stephanie, who was 16 the first time she encountered a 31-year-old Kelly, says his comment about Lewis came after he mentioned liking young girls"out of the blue." Rap duo Boo & Gotti were also in attendance at the dinner, and Stephanie says she was not allowed to speak to them because of Kelly's rules.Kelly first set eyes on Stephanie at Chicago's Rock N Roll McDonald's in 1998. She was there on a"double-date" with her boyfriend and another couple.
"He said he likes to cuddle and if I'd be OK with that," said Stephanie. A week or two later, she says they met up at his studio and the two had sex. Stephanie explained that at the time of her sexual encounter, she was"very vulnerable" and had been subject to sexual abuse in the past by family members and former bosses. Stephanie continued seeing Kelly for six months, a point that defense attorney Nicole Blank Becker used to discredit her account.
Stephanie said there were two sides of Kelly. Sometimes he could be"jovial" and"charming" while at other times, the singer"could put the fear of God in [her] very quickly." She testified that Kelly was controlling and recounted moments highlighting his short fuse. On one occasion, Stephanie says she noticed the absence of one of Kelly's security guards who often accompanied them and mentioned it to Kelly.