HE was once a Grammy-winning R&B superstar with millions of adoring fans – but for over two decades R Kelly has faced allegations of sexual abuse.
Now 54, the singer – who has consistently denied any wrongdoing – will stand trial tomorrow.
The former star, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, faces charges including running a sex trafficking “criminal enterprise”, racketeering, bribery, creating child pornography and extortion.
He faces four separate state and federal sex-crimes cases in total, with his first federal trial beginning on Wednesday.
The trial in New York will deal with multiple charges of sex-trafficking and racketeering.
Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges in all of the cases against him.
As he prepares to take the stand, we take a closer look at the allegations that have dogged him since the early nineties…
1994: Marries 15-year-old singer Aaliyah
In April 1994, Kelly, then 27, rose to fame with his hit 'Bump n Grind' and married then-15-year-old singer Aaliyah later that year in a secret ceremony in Chicago.
The nuptials were annulled months later in February 1995, because the young teen – who tragically died aged just 22 in a 2001 plane crash – was not old enough to marry without the consent of her parents.
'Princess of R&B' Aaliyah – who met Kelly when she was just 12 – also released her debut album, largely written and produced by him, titled 'Age Ain't Nothing But A Number.'
In 2019, Kelly’s then-lawyer Steven Greenberg admitted Kelly had married Aaliyah, but claimed Kelly had "no idea" the singer was 15 and she "had to lie about her age".
However it later emerged that Kelly was charged with bribing a government official to get a fake ID for the singer.
And, according to reports, Kelly seemingly acknowledged Aaliyah's age in a 1994 video, as he is heard saying: "Right now I'm producing a very talented lady – a young lady. She's 14, Aaliyah."
In the 2019 documentary Surviving R Kelly, backing singer Jovante Cunningham also claimed that she saw the star having sex with then 15-year-old Aaliyah on a tour bus.
1996: Sued for 'inappropriate sexual conduct'
Kelly was sued in December 1996 by Tiffany 'Tia' Hawkins, an aspiring singer and high school student, for $10m.
She alleged Kelly “engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct” with her in 1991, when she was 15 and he was 24, which caused "personal injuries and emotional distress."
According to The New York Times, two years later, the case was settled for $250,000.
That same year, he won three Grammies for 'I Believe I Can Fly'.
He also married second wife and mother of his three children Andrea, also known as Drea – who later divorced Kelly and accused him of domestic abuse – claims which he denied.
2001: Teen intern files lawsuit
In 2001, Tracy Sampson filed a lawsuit against the singer, accusing him of forcing her into a sexual relationship at the age of 16, while she was an intern.
She said in her legal case: "He often tried to control every aspect of my life including who I would see and where I would go."
In her first interview in 2019, Tracy also said: "I was in love with him. I just didn't know what to do, like I didn't know if this was normal.
"I didn't know if this how adults acted, like I just didn't know. I didn't know."
Shortly after the bombshell interview aired in 2019, Kelly and record label Sony reportedly agreed to part ways after nearly three decades working together.
2002 – Child porn charges, abortion & sex tape claims
Serious accusations continued to be made the following year too.
In February 2002, a reporter anonymously received a video allegedly showing Kelly telling a girl to call him “daddy” and urinating in her mouth, and shared it with the police.
The girl’s aunt told the reporter, who worked for the Chicago Sun-Times, that the girl had only been 14.
Kelly was charged with 21 counts of making child pornography, with all charges relating to one female victim.
However Kelly denied all charges.
The jury eventually concluded in 2008 they could not prove the girl on the tape was a minor, and Kelly was found not guilty of all charges.
He was later arrested and charged with another 12 counts of making child pornography – but all charges were dropped.
In the same year, Patrice Jones sued for $50k after claiming she met Kelly in 1998 when she was 16 and that Kelly had sex with her while she was underage, and coerced her into having an abortion.
In the same year, dancer Montina Woods claimed Kelly taped her during sex without her consent.
Both cases were settled and didn't go to trial.
2017: 'Sex cult' claims
An article written by BuzzFeed published in 2017 alleged "parents have told police that R. Kelly is keeping women against their will in an abusive 'cult' that's tearing families apart."
Three former employees said six women – all of legal age – lived in properties rented by Kelly, and "he controls every aspect of their lives: dictating what they eat, how they dress, when they bathe, when they sleep, and how they engage in sexual encounters that he records."
They also claimed he made them dress in joggers and were required to call him "Daddy".
However, the claims were brushed off by the singer and even by one of the victims herself, Jocelyn Savage, who told a news channel she was fine and not being held against her will – although she refused to reveal her location.
Kelly’s lawyer Linda Mensch added: “We can only wonder why folks would persist in defaming a great artist who loves his fans, works 24/7, and takes care of all of the people.”
That same year, victim Jerhonda Pace broke a non-disclosure agreement to speak about having sex with Kelly while she was underage.
She said when she was 16 she was invited onto his tour bus, and found him nude with another woman who was there to show her how to "please" the singer in Chicago.
In the interview she added that the singer would "physically harm" her as punishment.
Another woman, Kitti Jones, accused the R&B singer of starving her and forcing her to have sex with other women during their relationship.
2018: Treating women like 'Big Macs'
In 2018 BBC Three documentary, R Kelly: Sex, Girls and Videotapes, former friend Lovell Jones also revealed the singer’s liking of young girls was “common knowledge in the camp”.
Studio engineer James Lee revealed the artist had a queen-sized bed in the studio and would pick up women from McDonalds, saying: "They were there for one thing, to service Rob, and when he was tired of you – it’s like you’re a Big Mac, and when he’s done eating you, he throws the wrapper away."
That year Kelly's former girlfriend Faith Rodgers sued the R&B singer for allegedly giving her herpes when she was 19, claiming he also video taped himself having non-consensual sex with her.
2019: Sex trafficking charges
On July 11, 2019, Kelly was arrested on federal charges alleging sex crimes, people trafficking and obstruction of justice.
The charges against R Kelly include child pornography, kidnapping and forced labour, as of July 12, 2019, filed by the Northern District of Illinois where he is currently being held.
Kelly is also facing charges in New York including racketeering and violations of the Mann Act, which prohibits sex trafficking across state lines.
Kelly was denied bail and has been in custody ever since awaiting trial, and was attacked by a fellow inmate last year.
2021: Trial finally to begin
Now, the singer is set to appear in court and could face up to life in prison if found guilty.
Earlier this year, Associated Press reported prosecutors in the sex trafficking case say he also had sexual contact with an underage boy in addition to girls.
And given the severity of all the charges, it is possible the former star's luck could be running out.
One of his lawyers said last week that Kelly's "funds have been depleted," and that he needed new clothing for trial because he had gained weight in jail.
Now, twelve people on the jury – seven men and five women – will decide the singer's fate.
Source: Read Full Article
