For nearly 25 years, she was known only as “Jane Doe,” the 14-year-old girl in the infamous R. Kelly tape. Following the “Surviving R. Kelly” docuseries, many have inquired about the whereabouts of the young girl. Now, the victim is stepping out of the shadows with her new memoir, “Who’s Watching Shorty?”
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Reshona Landfair, whose real name had previously been withheld, is now 41. She sat on the witness stand to recount her experience during the famed R&B singer’s trial in the child pornography video. The case resulted in R. Kelly’s racketeering and sex-trafficking convictions and a 30-year prison sentence.
Now, decades later, Landfair is reclaiming her identity in her forthcoming memoir, “Who’s Watching Shorty?”
Penned as a “beautifully brutal” memoir, Landfair shared her descriptive experience as a victim subject to public opinion, growing up in an environment that made Kelly’s abuse possible, and going through the journey to reclaim herself from the emotional scrutiny she has endured.
In the anticipated memoir, “Who’s Watching Shorty?” reveals a pattern of neglectful behavior by exposing her family members, music business executives, social services, and even law enforcement, who turned a blind eye to Kelly’s actions. Because of his celebrity status and influence, Landfair details how many ultimately enabled Kelly’s behavior rather than protect a child in harm’s way.
“What was it like to be a young teenager, emotionally still a child, and be caught up in his orbit? Why did she believe he loved her, despite how badly he treated her? Why did she keep his secrets for so long?” the memoir’s synopsis asks.
“This book is an insider’s view from the girl, now woman, that R. Kelly called his ‘goddaughter,’ the man to whom she lost her virginity, her voice, her freedom, and nearly her life, in the years he had her under his perverse control,” it continues.
Landfair seeks to inspire bravery and encourage readers to protect their loved ones. The memoir was written to release her from the nameless identity of the young woman who took the stand and reveal herself as the woman who was able to champion through the pain of coercion and abuse.
“I wrote this book because I want other young women to know that no matter what has been done to you, or what you have endured, it was not your fault,” Landfair said in a press release. “Show yourself some grace and the healing will begin.”
“Who Watching Shorty” will be released on Feb. 3, 2026, and is available for pre-order now, wherever books are sold.
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