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In January 31 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:50.840 of nineteen ninety five, seventeen year old Vizette Martinez met 32 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:55.280 Grammy winning musician and record producer R Kelly at a 33 00:01:55.400 --> 00:01:59.719 venture mall in Florida where he was performing. At first, 34 00:01:59.760 --> 00:02:02.239 It's seemed that her hopes of becoming a professional singer 35 00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:04.920 were about to come true when he offered to help 36 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:10.560 boost her career. However, this mentorship quickly turned into sexual grooming, 37 00:02:11.199 --> 00:02:16.439 leading to years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. After 38 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:19.560 struggling to free herself of the relationship and rebuild on 39 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:23.280 her own Lyzette's successful new life far away from the 40 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:29.280 entertainment industry was interrupted in twenty seventeen by allegations against R. 41 00:02:29.360 --> 00:02:33.280 Kelly by other women This led to her coming forward 42 00:02:33.319 --> 00:02:35.599 to the authorities with their own history of abuse by 43 00:02:35.639 --> 00:02:41.199 the Music Icon. In January twenty nineteen, she participated with 44 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:46.199 other survivors in a documentary series with Lifetime called Surviving R. 45 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:49.400 Kelly. It should have been a healing and left them 46 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:54.400 feeling abandoned and fearful for their lives. In August twenty 47 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:57.039 twenty one, Kelly went on trial in New York on 48 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:00.240 racketeering and sex trafficking charges, who was found guilt fee 49 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:04.520 of all charges. The book that we're featuring this evening 50 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:08.800 is Jane Doe number nine, How I Survived R. Kelly, 51 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:16.599 with my special guest, author, survivor and activist Lizette Martinez. 52 00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:18.719 Welcome to the program, and thank you very much for 53 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:26.159 this interview. Lizette Martinez, Thank you, Hi, thank you for 54 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:30.159 having me. Thank you so much. This is a remarkable 55 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:34.439 book and a remarkable window into something that we just 56 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:39.000 we only think that we may understand. So congratulations on 57 00:03:39.080 --> 00:03:43.199 this book. Before we even start, let's get to. 58 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:45.680 You. 59 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:49.719 Say. At seventeen, your family moves to Miami Beach and 60 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:52.759 you're a senior in high school. Tell us about your 61 00:03:52.759 --> 00:03:56.360 best friend, Michelle, but more importantly, tell us about your 62 00:03:57.159 --> 00:04:00.439 what kind of family you come from, and what's going 63 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:02.680 on at that time, and just tell us about your 64 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:04.680 background and your family's backgrounds. 65 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:09.680 Okay, well, I'm from originally from New York. We're Puerto Ricans. 66 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:16.800 We moved to Miami Beach from Hollywood, so that was 67 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:19.079 like the third high school that I had gone to, 68 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:23.160 which was kind of tough. You know, it was moving 69 00:04:23.199 --> 00:04:26.439 around a lot. Things weren't very stable at home. My 70 00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:29.879 parents were very hard working but having a really rough time. 71 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:33.639 There was some situations going on at home. And I 72 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:36.560 only say this so that the readers and your listeners 73 00:04:36.600 --> 00:04:39.800 can understand where my head space was at during that time. 74 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:44.079 There was a lot of commotion going on in the home, 75 00:04:45.720 --> 00:04:49.920 but wonderful parents. They tried their best. We moved to 76 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:54.480 Miami from a big house in Hollywood till to a 77 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:58.519 little tiny studio where it was my brother, my younger brother, 78 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:02.000 my stepfather, and my mom and myself living in a 79 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:06.879 one room apartment. So I was really, you know, a 80 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:09.920 kid that was kind of like embarrassed. I couldn't bring 81 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:12.319 really friends over and I just really wanted to be 82 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:14.319 out of the house. Everyone was in each other's hair, 83 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:17.720 It was a typical you know, it was a typical family. 84 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:21.480 We we were happy. You know, my mom struggled a 85 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:28.079 bit with with alcohol and so sometimes there were fights 86 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:31.600 in the house. She's a phenomenal woman, but you know, 87 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:34.920 there were things going on that I really didn't want 88 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:38.920 to be around. My best friend Michelle. We've been friends 89 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:42.560 for since we were twelve years old, and she was 90 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:45.560 like a mother to me, and I tried to spend 91 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:48.680 as much time out of my house so I would always, 92 00:05:48.759 --> 00:05:50.720 you know, hang out with her. When we were seventeen, 93 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:54.199 when I moved back to Miami and we were together again. 94 00:05:54.519 --> 00:05:57.399 So it was a good time. Despite all that that 95 00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:59.360 was going on, I had my best friend who was 96 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:02.399 very strong and still to this day very strong. 97 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:06.319 You talk about you were in high school, but you 98 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:09.399 talked a little bit later in the book. But I 99 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.319 think we should talk about it now in terms of 100 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:17.000 did you experience any abuse when you were young? Before 101 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:20.720 we talk about that abuse, or after we talk about 102 00:06:20.759 --> 00:06:23.839 that abuse, we can talk about what your aspirations were, 103 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:27.439 what you had in mind for a career in your life. 104 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:31.839 Even as a yes, I mean I always love you know. 105 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.959 Linda rods Stamp Bette Midler Reata Franklin. I love music. 106 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:42.319 My dad is a lot and percussionist and so music, 107 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.639 you know, I was always around music. His cousin was 108 00:06:45.720 --> 00:06:49.560 a very famous drummer who played with Dizzy Gillespie and 109 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:52.879 all these jazz giants. And my mother was an Acro 110 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:57.399 Cuban dancer. So music was always around. And the arts, 111 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:00.759 you know, my uncle was an actor and and so 112 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:02.920 I had a lot of dreams. I really wanted to 113 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:05.759 be a performer. I wanted to be like Gloria Stefan, 114 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:07.959 you know, at that age, I just loved her so much, 115 00:07:08.199 --> 00:07:12.480 and I had a great voice, and so I really 116 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:14.240 thought that I could make it. You know, I had 117 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:17.600 a lot of dreams. Despite all the turmoil and like 118 00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:20.000 you said, the abuse and stuff that happened to me 119 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:23.639 at a young age, I saw myself being different. I 120 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:27.199 felt different. I felt that I could make it with 121 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:28.439 anything that I wanted to. 122 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:34.319 You know, right, what about that abuse when you were young? 123 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:37.800 What are these just to not dwell on these events, 124 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:43.000 but what are the kind of pivotal events that people 125 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:45.120 abused you when you were young? 126 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:50.480 You know, A close family friend when I was around 127 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:55.319 six or seven, and then it happened again with a babysitter, 128 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:00.879 and then it happened again with another family friend. So 129 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:06.120 I had already experienced some abuse there, sexual abuse, and 130 00:08:06.959 --> 00:08:10.800 it marked me, you know, but I still was kind 131 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:15.079 of a happy kid despite that. You know, my mom 132 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:18.560 kind of like she knew, she knew what happened, and 133 00:08:18.680 --> 00:08:23.160 she defended me. So I was okay, you know, I 134 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:24.079 thought I was okay. 135 00:08:25.560 --> 00:08:29.600 Yeah. Now it's January nineteen ninety five, like we say 136 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:32.639 in the introduction, and you're seventeen years old and you're 137 00:08:32.679 --> 00:08:37.759 with your bestie Michelle, and you're at the said Adventure 138 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:41.240 mall in Florida. So who's there with you? And what 139 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:44.360 are you guys doing? And how's it come to be 140 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:46.720 that you even recognized R Kelly? 141 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:50.559 So it was just a typical day, you know, it 142 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:55.360 was January, so I think we had like a Pepperriri 143 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:57.360 that day. So I asked my mom to go to 144 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:03.080 the mall Aventeer Mall and aventurf Florida, which is Miami, 145 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:07.120 and she allowed me to and it was like four 146 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:10.159 of us and my bestie was actually working at a 147 00:09:10.200 --> 00:09:14.240 clothing store, so we said, let's go visit Michelle and 148 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:16.960 that's what we did. And we're just walking around, just 149 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:22.720 teenage kids, you know, your windows, shopping and and then 150 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:25.159 I just see this this person with a with a 151 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:28.720 with a It was a very tall man, seven feet 152 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:32.639 I and and a bunch of other guys, so it 153 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:35.000 was like an entourage, and he looked very important. But 154 00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:38.840 I had gone to and a concert a year before 155 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:42.799 of R. Kelly's because I was in a singing group, 156 00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:45.360 an R and B group, and the manager wanted us 157 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:48.919 to go see Aliyah. Aliah never made it to the concert, 158 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:52.879 so that's how I knew of him. I recognized him 159 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:55.240 because we were very close to the stage and I 160 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:57.120 got a really good look at him. I wasn't really 161 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:59.480 a fan of that type of music. It was a 162 00:09:59.639 --> 00:10:02.759 like really hypersexual and my parents wouldn't like that, you know, 163 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:05.720 so I didn't really care for it. But I he 164 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:09.879 was a giant already in the world of music, you know. 165 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:14.360 He was a great producer, and I loved Aliyah's music. 166 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:17.559 So I recognized him right away, and I said to 167 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:20.200 my friend, that's I think that's R. Kelly. That looks 168 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:20.799 like R Kelly. 169 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:21.320 That's R. 170 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:23.480 Kelly. And she said, why would you be at the 171 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:27.159 mall and I said, I just laughed. I don't know. 172 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:29.600 I guess he's at the mall. And he heard me 173 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:33.600 and turned around and came straight up to me and 174 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:37.600 gave me a big old hug and asked me my 175 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.200 a like first CUP was like, oh, how are you? 176 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:44.080 I'm Robert, And then it was like how do you? 177 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:48.600 What school do you go to? You know, these questions, 178 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:51.279 and then we said goodbye, and he said he was 179 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:53.360 recording an album. I told him I was a singer 180 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:57.639 right away. I said I'm an inspiring singer and I'm 181 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:00.480 writing music. And he was like, oh, really, I'm working 182 00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:03.039 at the studio. You know, maybe I can help you. 183 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:05.240 And I was like really, like son, you know, like 184 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:08.320 here it is. My dream's about to come true. And 185 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:12.080 he just said goodbye, and I said good aye, a 186 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:14.600 nice meeting you. And I kind of just left it 187 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:18.120 like that, and then his bodyguard returned like a few 188 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:21.799 minutes later with a piece of paper with his with 189 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:25.759 Robert's phone number on it and said, oh, R Kelly 190 00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:27.960 would like you to call him. And I just took 191 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.720 the paper and I was just like shocked. 192 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:35.679 And when Michelle came out, m h, what did Michelle. Yeah, 193 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:37.840 what did Michelle have to say about this? What did 194 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:38.440 she advise? 195 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:42.840 Well, she she was uh, she said, what's going on? 196 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:45.679 And she came off out of work and I just 197 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:47.679 told her what happened and she goes, yeah, I saw, 198 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:51.240 and she says, maybe you should call him. This could 199 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.440 be your big break. You know, he helped Aliyah, And 200 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:55.720 that's really what we thought, you know, we just had 201 00:11:55.840 --> 00:12:00.519 that in our minds, not realizing he was a creditor, 202 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:05.399 you know, at that point. So then we went to 203 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:07.480 meet him after a few hours later. 204 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:12.759 You talk about that. Let's tell our audience about that, 205 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:16.279 because it's just odd and it sets the stage for 206 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:21.200 how your relationship really is, despite what you might have 207 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:23.360 wanted it to be, but what it really is. So 208 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:26.120 he calls you and says to meet you at this 209 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:30.159 meet them at the Sports Authority. So tell us about this, 210 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:33.600 this date, this first interaction with him. 211 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:38.200 So we get ready, we get dressed, We have a 212 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:41.159 friend drive us to the Sports Authority, which I guess 213 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:43.399 they were shopping there, which is near right across from 214 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:47.559 the Averton Mall. And so I arrived. I was so nervous. 215 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:50.200 I didn't know what was happening. But you know, I 216 00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:52.120 was going to give him an all because I really 217 00:12:52.200 --> 00:12:55.360 wanted to help my family more than anything. I also, like, 218 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:57.360 I really wanted to help my family get out of 219 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:59.960 the situation that they were in, and so I felt 220 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:03.039 like if I could make music and get a recording contract, 221 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:09.360 everyone's problems would be solved, you know. So I so 222 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:11.279 we went to meet him, and it was like a 223 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:14.840 bunch of guys and Aliah's uncle, Barry Hankerson was there. 224 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:18.960 So we felt like, you know, we knew about We 225 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:22.240 spoke about the rumors, Michelle and I about him and Aliyah, 226 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:24.960 but back then there was on social media. They put 227 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:27.720 us to sleep very quickly. You know, they put that 228 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.440 to bed very quickly. I mean, he was making a 229 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:33.159 lot of money for a lot of really important people, 230 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:37.159 so that went away quickly, you know what I mean. So, 231 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:41.440 and I say this because when we when we sat down, 232 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:46.120 Michelle asked him right away, did you marry Aliah? I 233 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:49.120 almost died because it was like she's so old, you know, 234 00:13:49.279 --> 00:13:51.679 But that was the right question. I mean, she was right, 235 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.399 you know, And he said, don't believe everything you hear, 236 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:59.639 and then he introduced us to Barry as Aliah's uncle. 237 00:14:00.679 --> 00:14:02.960 So we said, okay, well, I mean, why would her 238 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:05.759 uncle be with him managing him if he did that 239 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:10.120 to his knee? So that is the logic in my mind, 240 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:13.799 you know what I mean, like, why would anyone still be, 241 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:16.480 you know, working with this person if that was true. 242 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:20.159 So we just said okay, m hmm. 243 00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:23.840 Yeah. You know what I thought was just interesting and 244 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:28.159 fascinating and sort of just very cinematic, was you go 245 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:32.240 into this outback steakhouse. Again, not a super fancy place, 246 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:34.039 but you go in there and your friends from high 247 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:36.559 school are working in there and quizzing you on what 248 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:40.840 you're even doing in there. They can't believe the superstar 249 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.919 in a restaurant. 250 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:45.080 Yes, yeah, they couldn't believe it. Everyone was a big 251 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:49.440 deal and and yeah it was a simple restaurant, you know, 252 00:14:50.440 --> 00:14:53.639 and everyone was just like, what are you guys doing here? 253 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.919 And we're just like Michelle tells them shut up and 254 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:01.559 keeps walking. It's funny. I mean, the book is the 255 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.759 book is something else. 256 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:07.480 Right right now? He talks about going to the studio 257 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:11.080 right away. Do you guys go to the studio right away? 258 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:14.679 And if so, what happens? Tell us about that incredible. 259 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:19.559 So yeah, so we sat down and then I sang 260 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:23.159 for them and everyone clapped and Barry Hankerson said, oh, 261 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:25.759 you did so well and you're a really good singer. 262 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:29.440 Let's go to the studio, Robert said. So we head 263 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:32.080 to the studio, and I'm like, we're really going to 264 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:35.440 the studio, you know, like it just seems crazy and 265 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:39.720 so off the wall bizarre, like this is really happening. 266 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:43.679 I mean, I was so excited. But during the dinner, 267 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:46.200 I want them to know that he put his hand 268 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:49.679 on my on my leg, and that was kind of 269 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:52.679 like wet red flag a little bit. It brought me 270 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:54.639 back to like what had happened to me as a 271 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:58.559 child at that moment. But then I was like, I'm 272 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:01.039 just gonna you know, I just put his hand aside, 273 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:03.519 and he didn't, you know, he just stopped. So I 274 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:06.120 just felt like, Okay, let's just keep going and I'm 275 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:08.320 with my best friend and nothing's gonna happen to me. 276 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.600 Let's just see what happened. 277 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:11.039 Right. 278 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:16.519 So we get to the studio, right. So we get 279 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:21.600 to the studio and right away they separate Michelle and I. 280 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:25.799 They took her to another room where there was a 281 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:31.399 TV and pool tables her his cousin was talking to her. 282 00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:36.639 And then Robert took me into the studio room and 283 00:16:37.000 --> 00:16:40.799 he started playing music and then I started singing, and 284 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:47.559 then there was a kiss out of nowhere, which was 285 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:52.159 I didn't kiss back. I just froze, and then he said, oh, 286 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:55.399 I'm sorry, and and then he just went back to 287 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:57.559 his music stuff. And then I said, I think it's 288 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:01.159 time for me to go home. And Michelle came out 289 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:06.799 and she was very upset that she wasn't like, you know, 290 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:11.160 they rushed her away from me, right, And when we 291 00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:13.400 got home, she said, I don't know about it. You know, 292 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:16.200 he's kind of creepy. And I hadn't even told her 293 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:22.880 about the hand or the kiss yet, and right, yeah, 294 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:28.160 so that was the beginning. 295 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:33.559 You say about the next day he calls and he 296 00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:35.599 says I want you to come back, or he calls 297 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:37.279 you later and says I want you to come back tomorrow. 298 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:40.359 You got a swimsuit, you know how to swim, you 299 00:17:40.440 --> 00:17:42.559 can teach me. And then of course you just bring 300 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:46.720 your swimsuit and he just watches you right, right, And his. 301 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:50.440 Thing was I don't swim, because first it was let 302 00:17:50.519 --> 00:17:52.200 me teach you, and then it was I don't swim 303 00:17:52.279 --> 00:17:56.160 because a friend of his had drowned when they were kids, 304 00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:01.920 and so I I don't know. It was really really weird, 305 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:08.599 but it was a strange time, you know, thinking back 306 00:18:08.640 --> 00:18:11.359 as an adult, he was just a total predator, you know, 307 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:14.960 but he was acting like he was juveil like a kid, 308 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:17.119 you know, so you kind of feel like you're with 309 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:19.519 hanging out with someone that you would be hanging out 310 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:23.039 from high school, like a high school senior. It's so weird, 311 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:26.920 you know, at times he's like a predator and then 312 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:30.319 the other times he's just like a kid. Which I 313 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:32.880 don't understand that he. 314 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:35.720 Knew you had a curfew, so he knew you were 315 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:39.920 in high school. He also you said, hey, I got 316 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.640 a curfew and I got to go. So what was 317 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:45.839 the situation in terms of letting your parents know about 318 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:48.599 this and how did he end up communicating with you 319 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:52.240 to be able to continue seeing you? 320 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:57.839 Well, I spent like, well, there was one time where 321 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:01.039 he called right when I met him, Like you're saying, 322 00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:04.720 at that time, he called my house. Well, we didn't 323 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:07.160 have a landline, we didn't we didn't have a phone line. 324 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:09.279 The woman that owned the house, that lived in the 325 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:12.960 other half of the house did and somehow, some way 326 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:15.359 he got the phone number. I don't even know how, 327 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:19.400 but he called and my parents, Yeah, it was because 328 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:21.279 I was never allowed to give the number out and 329 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:24.480 I would never I would just be in trouble, you know. 330 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:29.160 So he called and said to the woman, I would 331 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:31.599 like to be soilicette, and she said she cannot receive 332 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:37.160 phone calls here and hung up apparently, so I don't 333 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:40.319 know how he got that number. It's really weird. But 334 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:46.119 then he called Michelle's house and that's how I got 335 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:49.200 the information from him, or I got to speak to him, 336 00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:52.400 because she would give me the messages at school. She 337 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:58.480 would beat me, and that's how we communicated. My parents 338 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:02.599 had no idea you know, what was going on whatsoever? 339 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:11.039 Mm hmm. When did you tell him that he needed 340 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:14.279 to talk to your parents to be able to really 341 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:17.880 be able to work with you? Oh? 342 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:21.039 Right away, right right away. We spoke about my parents 343 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:24.400 and his answer to me was, you know his during 344 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:26.759 the dinner. During the dinner we spoke about my parents, 345 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:32.759 where I said to him, you know, my parents are 346 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:35.400 very strict. They don't really like your kind of music, 347 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:38.759 and he said, well, your your parents, it's not for 348 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:43.039 your parents, And right then and there, I knew he 349 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:46.599 was like, that's going to be a weird meeting. But 350 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:50.759 you know, when we spoke about my parents and meeting 351 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:53.039 my parents, he would always say yeah, yeah, yeah, and 352 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:57.640 then put it off or say that my parents are 353 00:20:57.720 --> 00:21:00.519 not going to understand him, that my friends are going 354 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:04.240 to be very jealous of me. So he was slowly 355 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:08.319 there grooming me to start letting people go in my 356 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:13.000 life or to become isolated. You know, he was isolating 357 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:15.319 me very early on. 358 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:21.319 Right when you're in the studio and you do offer 359 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:26.319 some input, thinking that you're collaborating or you're working together 360 00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:30.039 or you're working on material, what kind of behavior does 361 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.559 he exhibit? 362 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:35.519 Well, he he doesn't read or write. And I didn't 363 00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:38.359 know that. So I don't think any really, anyone really 364 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:40.400 knew that. I mean, we had an idea that something 365 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:44.079 was wrong, but because of the way he was formulating 366 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:48.640 his sentences and stuff, so he sang a line and 367 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:53.799 it made absolutely no sense. So I said, you know, 368 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:56.519 the engineer looked at me. Everyone looked at each other 369 00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:58.839 like okay, and they looked scared. I didn't know why 370 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:00.680 they were afraid, you know, they looked like they were 371 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:05.279 afraid to say something. I mean, like really scared. So 372 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:08.400 I just said, well, this is the way you say it, 373 00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:11.440 and this this is the proper way of thing. And 374 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:17.200 he just humiliated me, berated me, yelled at me, said oh, 375 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:19.680 are you trying to get some worlds? He's off of me. 376 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:23.000 And that was the first time that I saw that other, 377 00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:27.240 real nasty side of him. And after he did that 378 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:30.880 to me, he later came back and to sit down 379 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:34.160 next to me. I mean, I was in tears. I 380 00:22:34.240 --> 00:22:37.119 hid tochoose a bathroom and just get myself together because 381 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:40.640 I just felt so awful here. It is someone that 382 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:43.880 I want to mentor me and they're treating me like this. 383 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:47.839 You know, we were collaborating and that was about it, 384 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:51.079 you know. And so after that he sat down with 385 00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:54.920 me and starts with the talking about his mother and 386 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:57.400 how she passed away and how close they were and 387 00:22:57.480 --> 00:23:00.960 starts crying. So I think, like, if it's typical abuser, 388 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:03.920 you know, like daberat you, they humiliate you'll hit you, 389 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:10.400 they'll you know, emotionally abuse you, and then want sympathy. 390 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:16.079 And that's basically how that situation was, and I was 391 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:20.000 just like, you know, I kind of like I saw 392 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:23.960 these behaviors around me prior to meeting him, and it's 393 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:27.000 like a pattern in life. Start learning these behaviors and 394 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:29.759 start accepting them, because that's just the way you think 395 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.079 it is. 396 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:38.440 You also experience a couple times when you talk to 397 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:42.519 his cousin mac Or. There was a time when you 398 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:44.400 were in the studio and he was working with a 399 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:49.680 rapper and you just exchanged words. You just had a 400 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:53.240 brief conversation. What does he do when he takes you aside? 401 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.359