R. Kelly Survivor Lisa Van Allen Explains on Red Table Talk Why She Doesn't Blame Her Mom for Abuse


1BlessedNatural: Lisa Van Allen (photo cred: Red Table Talk)
Friday, Lisa Van Allen of Lifetime's Surviving R. Kelly documentary appeared on Red Table Talk with Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris. Allen, who met Kelly when she was just 17 years old talked about the alleged sexual abuse she experienced while living with the R&B singer. When the topic of her mother came up, Allen said she and her mom only started discussing the abuse after the Lifetime documentary aired.

Allen continued by saying that she didn't blame her mom for her abuse because she didn't call and ask for her permission when R. Kelly requested that she go with him to Chicago. "I didn't call her on the phone at the video shoot and ask her can I go. I just told him [R.Kelly] yes because I was going," she said. Allen also said she thought she knew everything at the time, recalling her immaturity.

She went on to say this:

I don't want the blame to be on her because either way it goes, he [R. Kelly] was booking my flights, giving me money. I would have found a way to get there. He has people there that work for him to make it happen. So, a lot of people don't understand that either. 
Since the "Surviving R.Kelly" six-part docu-series aired from January 3rd-5th, it broke a record with over 2 million views. R. Kelly has denied all of the allegations. The internet erupted with people's reactions and many of them were towards the parents of the alleged victims.

Lisa Van Allen said that a lot people will ask questions about where her parents were in her situation with R. Kelly, but they won't ask the same question in regard to R. Kelly being molested as a child (which was also revealed in the documentary). Her and Jada acknowledged that a double standard exists where women have to bear the blame for everything. "It's as if we have to take on everyone's morality", Smith said.

Surviving R.Kelly: The Aftermath (Part 2)" of Red Table Talk will air Monday on Facebook. Lisa Van Allen's 16-year-old daughter will appear on the show.


My 2 Cents

I watched the "Surviving R. Kelly" documentary with my Assistant Editor, J.T. and my sister-in-law, and we were disgusted! I was heavyhearted by the dozens of women recounting their horror stories of abuse. 

A lot of us saw the news reports of R. Kelly's marriage with Aaliyah but they were slipped under the rug. I was a teen at the time and hoped it was not true. There are so many layers to this problem of the issues being swept under the rug in the Black community. Now, the allegations are right in front of our faces on a daily basis. The Surviving R. Kelly documentary by Dream Hampton, Red Table Talk and "Me Too" movement are great examples of why women can now speak up about sexual abuse and be heard. 

Also, I think that social media has played a major role in making sure we don't forget what R. Kelly had done. When I heard about the allegations of him holding young women hostage, I made the decision to stop listening to his music. 

 I am hoping and praying that all of his victim's get justice. If he goes to jail, I also hope that he gets some type of counseling. I've included the video of the Red Table Talk below. Please let me know what you think of it!


What do you think of the episode? #MuteRKelly

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