Azriel Clary, who publicly denied allegations made in the “Surviving R.Kelly” docuseries, is planning to testify at the singer’s sex trafficking trial. According to TMZ, the 22-year-old and former girlfriend of Kelly wants to take the stand and share her experiences in the Brooklyn courtroom.
The decision to speak up was “based on her belief that what Kelly did to her and others is wrong,” Clary’s father, Angelo Clary told TMZ. “She wants to do it for the sake of justice and to show what a monster he truly is,” he added while making it clear that no one was forcing his daughter to tell her story.
Mr. Clary also admitted that the 22-year-old is reportedly stressed, noting she’s received death threats following her break up with the singer.
After defending Kelly on “Good Morning America,” Clary got into a physical altercation with Joycelyn Savage — his other girlriend at the time. Shortly after, she moved out of the hotel where they stayed and returned to her home. In the days since her return, she’s opened up about her relationship with Kelly and has since been working with the feds.
“I definitely do believe that I was very naive and very brainwashed and manipulated by him,” Clary told The Sun. “And as much as I hate to say it I’m woman enough and I’m grown enough to admit that yes, I was brainwashed and yes, I was manipulated. And yes, this man did have me wrapped around his finger. If he would have told me to jump, I would have said, ‘How high?’”
Though Mr. Clary doesn’t believe his daughter will back down, she’s reportedly received threats from the singer’s fans. In one instance, for example, Clary claimed that she was the victim of arson after she found her car on fire. The arsonist later pleaded guilty to the crime.
If Clary takes the stand at Kelly’s case, she’d follow the emotional testimony of Jerhonda Pace, who admitted that the songwriter started abusing her when she was 16 years old. Prosecutors also plan to bring associates, doctors, victims and other witnesses to the stand during the trial.