When it rains, it pours. A little over a week ago, former music industry executive and current political activist Ronald Savage alleged that he had been sexually abused as a teenager by hip-hop legend Afrika Bambaataa. Now Savage doesn't stand alone, with three more men also claiming the same thing that the "Planet Rock" artist had also molested them during their early teens in the late 1980s.
One man Hassan Campbell spoke to the NY Daily News, recalling how Bambaataa allegedly took advantage of him. He spoke about how the rapper gave him a place to stay because of troubles at home, a bed and even cash when needed.
"He had the most fun house in the world," recalled Campbell, 39. "There were celebrities there, musicians, neighborhood heroes. It was the best place to be - and the worst place to be."
However things were not all as great as they seemed as Bambaattaa abused him several times when Hassan was 12 and 13 years old.
"He is a pervert," Campbell added. "He likes little boys."
Another man who wished to remain anonymous spoke to the Daily News, saying he was abused at least five times by Bambaataa in 1980.
"I know what Ronald Savage is saying is true because he did it to me," said a 50-year-old New York man who requested anonymity. "I have never spoken to anybody about this and when I did, I said 'Holy s---, they finally caught up to him.'"
Savage made his claims as part of a new biography and has said he isn't seeking any monetary damages, but instead wants to try and reform New York's statute of limitations on child abuse laws, which bars child victims from pursuing criminal charges or civil litigation after their 23rd birthday. This has been problematic says Savage and other because it can take decades to fully come to terms with the trauma of the abuse.
Bambaataa's camp has not responded to these fresh allegations, but denied Savage's claims.
