She has three children with the "I Believe I Can Fly" singer.
Singer R. Kelly's former wife has claimed she was abused by the R&B singer while they were married, adding that he is "definitely a monster."
Andrea Kelly was married to R. Kelly from 1996 to 2009. They had three children together, but she says the years they were together were hardly marital bliss.
“I often say I spent 10 years being married, but I don't know what it's like being a wife,” she told Inside Edition.
She says one harrowing night in particular is burned in her memory, when she says he tied her up and left her on the side of the bed while he slept.
Andrea says she decided to speak out after several women came forward to accuse the "I Believe I Can Fly" singer for allegedly holding them against their will in a cult-like living arrangement.
Andrea met R. Kelly when she was a dancer-choreographer. After they married, she says she couldn’t leave their Chicago home without this permission.
She says she had to call him "daddy," and if she forgot, the punishment was severe.
She said their relationship often involved physical violence, with yelling and screaming a common occurrence. She added that he would throw things.
She says reaching out to a domestic abuse hotline gave her the courage to take her children and leave. She had just $2,500 and a duffle bag.
“It really was like the scene out of a movie," she said. "We drove off [into] the sunset and I never went back,” she said as tears streamed down her face.
Inside Edition was unable to reach R. Kelly for comment, but he has previously denied all allegations of misconduct.
RELATED STORIES
