The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum Porsha Williams recently spoke out about an inappropriate encounter with R&B singer R. Kelly. The "I Believe I Can Fly" singer was recently charged with multiple counts of sex trafficking and racketeering from incidents dating back to the early 1990's. Back in May, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, the 54-year-old still faces charges in other states on counts of child pornography. Countless victims spoke up about past abuse they received from R. Kelly during the Me Too movement.
Porsha was married to her now ex-husband, Kordell Stewart when she joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 5 in 2012. During their marriage on the show, the other housewives called out the ex-NFL player's controlling behavior towards Porsha. During The Real Housewives of Atlanta season 5 episode 18, "Strip Is a Trip," the women headed to Sin City for a girls' weekend. Porsha was under the impression they were heading to a burlesque show when they were actually headed to an exotic dance club called Crazy Horse. While they were in the limo on their way to the club, Porsha was made aware of where they were actually going and refused to go because Kordell would not approve of it. In their confessionals, the rest of the housewives were confused as to why a grown woman had to have her husband's permission to go to that type of club. The couple ended their marriage in 2013, and Porsha later revealed that her ex-husband mentally and physically abused her during their marriage.
In a recent interview with People, Porsha shared her disturbing encounter with R. Kelly, which led her to tell investigators, "I realized it was my opportunity to help anyone who's been hurt by him," she said. In her memoir, The Pursuit of Porsha, The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum revealed that she had an opportunity to work with him in 2007 when she was 25 years old. She flew to Chicago in hopes of working with the R&B singer to help her possibly develop a music career. When she arrived, she was taken to his house where she sat alone in his room for hours. Once R. Kelly showed up, he directed Porsha to remove all her clothing. "This is what you're supposed to do. You have to. There is no turning back," Porsha said in her memoir.
According to the book, the reality star met with R. Kelly two more times after that encounter. She recalled hearing multiple women being beaten and tortured in other rooms of his house, which led Porsha to never return. She said that during that time, she had the mindset of an abused person since she was being mentally abused by other men in her life. For years, the now 40-year-old kept her encounter with R. Kelly a secret close to herself. Once she finally gained the courage to tell her mother about the disturbing situation she was involved in, her mother encouraged her to speak up and tell her story. "She told me some of her experiences. And we just talked about how this should be told so other women don't have to go through it," Porsha said.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta alum has evolved into a brave woman. Once a victim of abuse, not only has she become a survivor but she's also found the strength to tell her story. Hopefully, her braveness will help other survivors of abuse speak up and ultimately not feel alone.
Source: People