After more than two decades known only as "Jane Doe" in one of the most notorious abuse cases in music history, Reshona Landfair is finally stepping forward under her own name. In a powerful first-ever interview ahead of her memoir's release, Landfair recounts her decade-long abusive relationship with R. Kelly, her long road through fear and silence, and the faith that helped her begin healing.
Speaking with Rolling Stone, Landfair reveals the deep personal cost of living anonymously for 25 years after the circulation of the infamous videotape. "I was afraid to say my own name and be who I really was to work, to friends," she says. "But I'm here today as Reshona."
Her forthcoming memoir is both a testimony and a reclamation. While unflinching in its account of abuse, manipulation, and trauma, the book also traces Landfair's spiritual recovery. She openly references faith as a sustaining force in her healing journey, framing her future with hope and belief that God can restore what was taken. In the memoir, she reflects on trusting that new dreams can still be planted after devastation.
Landfair's decision to speak publicly marks a dramatic reversal of power. For years, her identity was hidden while the name and fame of her abuser dominated headlines. Now, she asserts ownership over her narrative, emphasizing that survival is not only about endurance but about restoration of voice, dignity, and self.
The release of her memoir comes at a moment of continued reckoning within the music industry and beyond, as survivors increasingly step forward to tell their stories on their own terms. Landfair's account stands as a reminder that healing is possible, that faith can coexist with truth-telling, and that naming oneself can be an act of profound courage.
For the full interview and additional excerpts from the memoir, visit Rolling Stone.
