Allegations have floated around for years about the secret personal life of rapper R. Kelly. The perception that his dating life was not operating within legal limits has not gone away, despite adamant televise denials. Is there any truth to these rumors?
Trapped In The Closet
Instagram / rkelly
At the moment, R. Kelly faces the most serious challenge to his reputation and freedom yet, with a court case pending that alleges 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, obstruction of justice, child pornography, forced labor, and kidnapping. Yikes, that's serious business!
In 2017, BuzzFeed brought us a story about two women who were allegedly restricted from talking with their loved ones while in R. Kelly's home for an extended period of time. They were not allowed to choose what they ate or wore, and the rapper recorded sex acts with them.
While initial attempts by the parents were unsuccessful, the rapper was eventually charged. Is this all a big misunderstanding? And who is R. Kelly, the man behind the celebrity persona?
Start The Ignition!
We've tracked down his family history and a timeline of events starting in the 1990s to investigate the merits of these claims.
We report, you decide!
King of the World
Shutterstock
Robert Sylvester Kelly is the real name of the man we know as R. Kelly, born in 1967. He has achieved industry titles others will never earn: singer, record producer, songwriter, and even semi-professional basketball player. Along the way, he has collected more accolades than we can count!
The "King of R&B" has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, making him the 55th best-selling music artist in America. R. Kelly has Grammys, BET Awards, American Music Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and even the NAACP Image Award.
That last one? Might need to be revoked, as it turns out.
Shocking Touch
Instagram / rkelly
How did R. Kelly get to this point, beginning life as a poor kid in a Chicago neighborhood in the 1970s? The truth is, there were more than a few bumps along the way. Some dark times, really. But what, exactly?
Sexual abuse occurred at age 8, detailed in the rapper's autobiography several years back. He wrote about being raped by a female family member when his mother wasn't home, after enjoying an evening watching The Jeffersons and Three’s Company.
While that's no easy thing to admit, he went even further with disclosure to his fans. What happened next in R. Kelly's young life?
More Abuse Ahead
Instagram / rkelly
R. Kelly wrote his sexual abuse by a female family member actually continued until he was 14. But at age 10, a male friend of the family also touched him inappropriately. Why did he keep it all a secret until recently?
He explained: "I was too afraid and too ashamed". Many abuse survivors can understand that one!
It Gets Worse...
At age 11 in the midst of all this chaos at home, R. Kelly says he was shot while riding his bike. Today, the bullet is still in his shoulder. There seems to be some dispute over whether thieves really tried to steal his bike at gunpoint, or if this was an early suicide attempt.
At least one family friend makes this alternative claim! What's the truth, though?
Reflecting On Hell
CBS News
In recent years, R. Kelly has tried to come to terms with this early life trauma: "I, well, definitely forgive them... As I'm older, I look at it and I know that it had to be not just about me and them, but them and somebody older than them when they were younger, and whatever happened to them when they were younger. I looked at it as if there was a sort of like, I don't know, a generational curse, so to speak, going down through the family. Not just started with her doing that to me."
Sexual abuse is no foundation to start out life, but millions of men and women out there have been forced to forge a positive path forward despite the pain. Would R. Kelly find a healing relationship to break the pattern in his romantic life?
Forbidden Love
In 1994, R. Kelly actually married a 15-year-old. You might be familiar with her: Aaliyah, the singer!
Risky Business
The young R&B singer made her first album in 1994, at age 14. R. Kelly was in his late 20s at the time, and he was her main songwriter. Rumors went wild about a romantic relationship between the two, and a media outlet got a hold of a marriage certificate filed in 1995 from Illinois.
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But how is that possible, really?
A close look revealed that Aaliyah’s age had been falsely recorded as 18. Neither would speak about the marriage publicly, and confirmation details have died with Aaliyah at this point. Her tragic plane crash still haunts us all!
What is R. Kelly's explanation today, though? GQ interviewed him on the topic, but only got silence: “I’ve always said, out of respect for her mother who’s sick and her father who’s passed, I will never have that conversation with anyone."
Other investigations revealed more details...
Secret Ceremony
At age 27, R. Kelly married the 15-year-old Aaliyah at a ceremony in Chicago. No one knew about it! Now looking back at records, it is clear that the age was recorded as 18. According to a Chicago Sun-Times story, an annulment was granted from a Michigan judge not long after.
Twitter / Steven James
Aaliyah's family also expunged the marriage record, and she ended her relationship with R. Kelly completely. What did she have to say about the whole affair, years later?
Apparently nothing, at least in front of cameras: "When people ask me, I tell them, 'Hey, don't believe all that mess... We're close and people took it the wrong way." The records don't lie, though. R. Kelly has had a well-known, dodgy history with underage girls for quite a long time.
Would the next underage girl have the same attitude in public?
Young Love, Again
Facebook / R Kelly
In 1996, R. Kelly was sued for emotional distress and personal injuries by Tiffany Hawkins, an ex of three years. Was she any older than his last romance?
During the lawsuit, Tiffany claimed their sexual relationship began when she was only 15 years old. R. Kelly was 24, a nine-year age difference. And illegal, too!
You're Going Down
She originally asked for $10 million but accepted $250,000 in a 1998 settlement. R. Kelly was just at the beginning of an expensive journey, however. Who would accuse him next?
Teen Troubles
Next, R. Kelly was sued by an intern at Epic Records in 2001. Tracy Sampson accused the star of bringing her into "an indecent sexual relationship" at age 17, and she wasn't happy about the dynamic she experienced. She said she was "treated as his personal sex object and cast aside".
Facebook / R Kelly
But that wasn't all!
During the legal proceedings, she gave more degrading details: "He often tried to control every aspect of my life including who I would see and where I would go". Creepy stuff!
He Said, She Said
But did R. Kelly really admit to this? Whether he agreed in his heart or not, he chose to settle the case out of court. Unfortunately, this would not be the end of his legal woes with women. Who came next?
XXX-Files
In 2002, two additional court cases popped up to sting him. Patrice Jones was a Chicago woman claiming an underage pregnancy that resulted in an abortion.
Facebook / R Kelly
And Montina Woods claimed that he secretly videotaped them during sex, which was alleged to be the video circulating as R. Kelly Triple-X on the bootleg market. Would he deny these accusations?
Again, R. Kelly chose to settle the cases without a high profile court case. An undisclosed sum and a non-disclosure agreement were implemented, and the women went away. Would they be the last, though?
That Pee Tape Though
In 2002, R. Kelly was charged with the most outrageous offense yet: Child pornography. A whopping 21 counts included making child pornography with intercourse, oral sex, and oddly — urination.
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The Chicago police arrested him after authenticating a video sent anonymously to the local newspaper. Yikes!
R. Kelly posted $750,000 in bail, and immediately denied the accusations on MTV. In court, he pleaded not guilty. Would the world really believe him after such a public, speckled history with other underage girls?
Crap In The Closet
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Six years passed before the case made it to trial, but R. Kelly did not sit by idly. It was then that he created his famous Trapped In The Closet album, and the music world applauded. He was nominated for an NAACP Image Award during this period!
The case concluded in his favor, eventually. The prosecution could not prove the female on video was actually underage, because she decided not to testify. The jury was forced to conclude he was not guilty of all 14 counts! Would R. Kelly finally learn his lesson about girls on film, though?
Sunny Days In Florida
Facebook / R Kelly
Indeed, he would not. In the early 2000s, R. Kelly was arrested yet again for child pornography at his Florida holiday house. Police grabbed his camera during the apprehension, and more incriminating footage was discovered of young looking girls. Would these charges finally stick?
No, everything was dropped when a judge agreed with the defense team. The overzealous police, in this case, lacked evidence to justify a search in the first place. R. Kelly was finally out of the woods, right?
Kelly Cult
Facebook / R Kelly
In 2017, bizarre allegations surfaced about an R. Kelly sex cult. Buzzfeed released a long expose on the matter, and six women claimed they were abused by the star. But how could he do that under such public scrutiny all the time?
According to the women, R. Kelly seduced them when they asked for help with their careers. Then, he took control of "what they eat, how they dress, when they bathe, when they sleep, and how they engage in sexual encounters that he records".
He also held on to their phone so they couldn't call anyone for help! Everyone was dying to know: What was R. Kelly's side of the story?
Decisive Denial
Facebook / R Kelly
R. Kelly denied the entire story! One girl cited in the story later denied the idea that she was trapped against her will, helping R. Kelly's case. Joycelyn Savage, 21, spoke to TMZ: "I'm not being brainwashed or anything like that."
R. Kelly's lawyer said the singer was "alarmed and disturbed at the recent revelations" and wanted to "work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name". Would he really be able to do that after so many years of suspicion?
Tour From Hell
Starting in 2017, a slew of self-described victims began approaching cameras everywhere. Kitti Jones said that R. Kelly starved her, physically abused her, and pressured her into sexual encounters with women.
NBC / The Today Show
She spoke to the BBC with others who knew him, and claims that the singer had scouts to locate women "that looked young". The group said it was all common knowledge!
Kitti Jones joined Asante McGee to talk about shared experiences on The Today Show. According to Kitty: "I had to wear sweatpants, I had to stand up when he would walk in a room." Asante said that women had to call the singer "daddy" or they would get in trouble!
Now in the era of #MeToo, would America be interested in these accusations in a real way?
Mute That Man
In 2018, a new movement popped up on social media: #MuteRKelly. Atlanta Arts Administrator Oronike Odeleye decided to start a petition to get the singer's music off the local airwaves.
According to Oronike: “I have been hearing about R. Kelly’s sexual abuse of young black women since I was in my teens. Every few years more women come out with their stories. More images and videos surface. More black girls are scarred for life just as they are coming into their womanhood and sexuality."
#MuteRKelly Movement
And he went further: “Someone had to stand up for black women, and if I wasn’t willing to do my part—no matter how small—then I couldn’t continue to complain. It’s time for us to end this man’s career. Enough is beyond enough."
Would this activist be able to generate enough public energy to make a difference?
Cancel Kelly
Shutterstock
The #MuteRKelly campaign asked record label RCA to cut ties with the star. Then, they demanded concert promoters and streaming services comply with the boycott. At first, Apple, Spotify, and Pandora agreed to remove his hits from their playlists. Later, it was reversed!
Regardless, activists want to see permanent results: “We will continue to disrupt, continue to demonstrate, continue to call him out, continue to raise awareness until hopefully one day soon, we can step in the name of justice at his trial.”
They have a practical to-do list of action items, but what do they believe will make the biggest difference right now?
Activist Action
According to the #MuteRKelly movement, current supporters should share protest social media posts with all friends and family. They can also consider donating to help run ads and print flyers and posters for public protests of his concerts.
#MuteRKelly Movement
And a petition can be signed to show support for the women and pressure music services!
Additionally, people are encouraged to click thumbs down on his songs on streaming services and contact DJs in their town to ask for an artist ban at weddings, graduations, and other events. At least one person close to R. Kelly would take the hint and leave him behind forever. But who?
I Don't Admit It
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Linda Mensch was his lawyer, personal assistant, and publicist all in one. She quit during this tumultuous period, though she claimed it was "unrelated to any allegations related to Mr. Kelly's social life." Maybe, maybe not. But soon, even more chaos would emerge.
Next, R. Kelly was sued by an ex for intentionally infecting her with a sexually transmitted disease. R. Kelly did not agree, saying he "categorically denies all claims and allegations" through a rep.
During this period, he released I Admit, a song confessing unfaithfulness and reflecting on his childhood abuse: "Only God can mute me... Am I supposed to go to jail or lose my career because of your opinion?" Fair enough, R. Kelly. Or was it?
Unwanted Exposure
Lifetime
In 2019, another documentary led to fresh accusations. Painstakingly laid out in 6 parts, Surviving R. Kelly presented a detailed look at his personal history. What were the real revelations?
The documentary also found video footage of the parents who were trying to rescue their daughters. They hadn't seen them in years! Interviews during the series also showed his close network that seems to be enabling his bad decisions.
According to former tour manager Demetrius Smith, "That's the way it was... We worked for him. This is what he wanted and so this is what we were supposed to give him."
Going Downhill Fast
A few weeks after the broadcast, R. Kelly was dropped by his record label. Then, concerts were canceled in the US and New Zealand. Something even more dramatic was in store, though. What would possibly happen next?
Vicious Video
Facebook / R. Kelly
TV lawyer Michael Avenatti suddenly claimed he had a video showing R. Kelly and a 14-year-old girl having sex. Charges were filed in Chicago. Just one or two?
Initially, 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse were announced. Then, an additional 11 charges were filed for "sexual assault and abuse against a minor aged between 13 and 16". Documents described sex and oral sex taken "by the use of force or threat of force" against a minor.
In a televised emotional interview, R. Kelly denied the accusations! Would he get out of this one, too?
Money Makes The World Go Round
Soon, nationwide charges would pile up. Separate federal cases in Illinois and New York would be joined by additional sex crimes charges in Minnesota. Prosecutors alleged a very organized attempt to transport minors over state lines for sex. But that's not all!
R. Kelly / Facebook
Child pornography production and a conspiracy to obstruct justice, destroy evidence, bribe witnesses, and engage in threats and racketeering were also in the legal mix.
According to R. Kelly's new lawyer, they "look forward to his day in court, to the truth coming out and to his vindication from what has been an unprecedented assault by others for their own personal gain".
Could that really be true?
Reality Check
In the meantime, R. Kelly was put in solitary confinement! His lawyer filed a motion to get bail, but this was denied. The judge agreed with prosecutors that he was a flight risk and a potential threat to witnesses. R. Kelly has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges so far.
Facebook / R Kelly
What do experts say about what he is really facing now?
Some say that he is actually looking at a bare minimum of 15 years in prison! The new charges include the production of child pornography, which alone is a federal mandatory minimum of 15 years. And in federal court, there is no early prole system! And what about the racketeering, you ask?
Musical Mafia
Usually, racketeering charges are associated with mafia and gang crime. According to one legal expert:
