AceShowbiz - Embattled soul star R. Kelly has been sued for sexual assault.

Faith Rodgers claims she met the I Believe I Can Fly singer in March, 2017, when she was 19, backstage after a show in San Antonio, Texas and he flew her to New York for another gig two months later.

According to documents, obtained by TMZ, she alleges Kelly initiated "unwanted sexual contact" in her hotel room and it became "abusive". She also claims she caught herpes from the singer.

Rodgers says she and Kelly dated for a year, during which he mentally, verbally and sexually abused her, locking her in rooms, studios and cars to punish her for failing to fulfill his sexual desires.

Faith is suing Kelly for sexual battery, false imprisonment and failure to disclose a sexually transmitted disease.

The singer is facing a series of sexual violence allegations, and has been accused of running a "sex cult".

Kelly has also lost a $100,000 (GBP74,000) lawsuit against a Georgia venue after failing to show up in court, days after two of his attorneys stepped down from the case, citing "ethical obligations".

The singer filed suit against bosses at Comcast Spectacor last year (17), accusing them of breach of contract over a show at the Macon Coliseum in February, 2017. He claimed they never paid him for the performance.

Judge John Robert Blakey dismissed the case last week, May 15, after Kelly failed to appear.

Last month, Kelly's attorney, assistant and publicist all cut ties with the musician.