B2K Singer Retracts Serious Allegations
December 27, 2007

Demario "Raz-B" Thornton claimed in a pair of videos over the weekend that his manager during his days as a member of the hit R&B band B2K sexually molested him, but yesterday he recanted those charges via another clip on YouTube. This is the current state of internet video clips - sexual molestation allegations can be levied and then recanted without an actual article or interviewer or legal force involved. Chris Stokes, the former B2K manager vehemently denied the claims of Demario Thornton and now Raz-B and his older brother, Ricardo "Ricky Romantic" Thornton, have recanted their claims.

MTV quotes the clip that hit yesterday, in which Raz-B says, "This is DeMario Thornton, publicly known as Raz-B of B2K. I would like to send a public apology for some tapes that were leaked without my authority. I just want to say that those allegations are not true ... with Chris Stokes and Marques Houston, and I apologize for any hurt this may have caused publicly [or] financially."

Stokes responded in a statement released to MTV today - "I'm happy that DeMario 'Raz-B' Thornton and Ricardo Thornton realized their mistakes and admitted to lying. I have always supported my family and have always been a stand-up person. I knew that the truth would eventually come to light." Stokes had told MTV in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, "I'm not gay. And I'm married. And I have four kids. I been with my wife for 16 years. And I'm not a child molester. So those are all false allegations. I'm gonna sue them. And I owe that to my wife and kids, period. It's ridiculous."

In the original, now-recanted video, Raz-B said, "It all started with Chris Stokes. It started one day when Chris was like - 'Let me touch you' ... I can't speak for everybody, but if you want my personal opinion, I think he did (touch all the other group members)." Raz-B even says, "I'm not lying, I'm not lying about a mother----ing thing." That story changed today.

Ricardo claimed, "Chris [Stokes] made me take showers with the other boys. ... All that little sh-- that my brother was introduced to, that sh-- was brought to me first, and I blocked that sh--. I wasn't with it, I backed off ... I kinda knew what was going on over there, and yet I took my brother over to Chris. I didn't protect him like I should have. [Stokes] molested my brother and he molested me ... when I say that, it hurts ..."

Omarion, the most famous former member of B2K, had stood behind Stokes in his denials of the allegations. He said to MTV yesterday, "I want to be on the record as saying that 'Raz-B' Thornton and Ricardo Thornton are lying regarding Chris Stokes," Omarion said. "Chris is a father figure to myself and many others in the industry. He's guided us, helped raised us and is nothing more than an inspiration and someone I respect and look up to. I have spent countless hours, days, weeks and months with the man - since the age of 5 - and have never once seen him behave inappropriately. He's married to my aunt, and I know this man very well. I stand behind him with no question whatsoever. I have grown up around Chris, and this is crazy to me. These people have damaged me and my reputation. I won't stand silent and will do all within my means to speak the truth about this matter."

For other recent controversial singer stories, check out Amy Winehouse Arrested in London, Pam Anderson Divorce, and Britney Skips Deposition.