For over two decades, rumors about singer R. Kelly have been circulating around about him having inappropriate sexual relations with underage girls. But recently, a number of women and young girls have come forward with claims and stories of sexual misconduct in a variety of forms being shown in a published Buzzfeed article as well as the highly talked about “Surviving R. Kelly” docu-series on Lifetime.
Over the years, Kelly has been sued by multiple women accusing him of having sex with them when they were underage. He has consistently denied these accusations. Most of the cases, with the exception of the trial where he was acquitted, were settled out of court.
Now, all those cases, allegations and rumors have come to a head today, as prosecutors have officially charged R. Kelly (full name Robert Sylvester Kelly) with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving several women—at least three of them minors, according to multiple reports.
In today’s brief press conference, Cook County State’s Attorney, Kim Foxx, announced that the charges come from four women who say they have had relations with R. Kelly during the times of:
– May 1998 to May 1999
– September 1998 to September 2001
– February 2003 to February 2004
– May 2009 to January 2010
Foxx’s office said it has been inundated with tips after the top prosecutor urged victims to come forward. Meanwhile, a county judge issued a warrant for Kelly’s arrest Friday morning, court records show.
A bond hearing has been scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2019 afternoon at the Leighton Criminal Court Building, a Foxx spokesman confirmed.
As the Chicago Sun-Times reports, “A Cook County [IL] judge has approved a no-bail arrest warrant for embattled R&B superstar R. Kelly. … The alleged crimes span from 1998 to 2010, records show. The minors were between 13 and 16, prosecutors allege.”
In 2017, a BuzzFeed report claimed that Kelly had been keeping several young women against their wills as part of a “sex cult,” though he was not formally charged based on those allegations.
High-profile attorney Michael Avenatti said in 2019 that he had given Foxx’s office a VHS tape showing Kelly engaging in sex years ago with an underage girl.
“The newly unearthed footage, which lasts 42 minutes and 45 seconds, is clear and explicit. … What is on the video mirrors…
…some of the alleged acts for which Kelly was arrested in a child pornography case in 2002 when he was 35 and then acquitted six years later.”
While the story is still developing, the entertainment industry had already begun to turn its back on Kelly. A growing number of radio stations, streaming services, and other industry entities have made the decision to remove Kelly’s music from their rotation and archives.
Stay tuned here with the latest developments from this breaking news.
Surviving R. Kelly: Black Girls Deserve Better
In Lifetime’s new three-part docuseries, “Surviving R. Kelly,” a number of women speak out about the abuse they suffered at the hand of the “Pied Piper of R&B.” Kelly has done all of this in the background of creating hit after hit after hit of music that many of us have danced to, grinded to, made love to or sang along with.
Yet, this is nothing new to followers of his music.
Even before the infamous sex tape emerged in the early-2000’s, during which R. Kelly is seen urinating on an alleged minor, the singer had openly carried out a romantic relationship with his protégée, Aaliyah, when she was just15 and he was 27. (The name of her debut album, which producer Kelly apparently chose, was Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number.)
Not to mention, he calls himself the “Pied Piper.” Historically, in the original Pied Piper story, a man who was trying to get back at a town’s mayor for not paying him, dressed in green like a hunter playing his pipe. In so doing, he attracted the town’s children. A hundred and thirty children followed him out of town and into a cave and were never seen again. This is the man R. Kelly names himself after–a man who lures children, using music.
Shaking. My. Head.
Despite what you may think you know, with these first-account stories from women, it’s hard not to see nor dimismiss the pain, anguish and sheer digust they’ve had to endure. Below are a few clips from the show:
Instead of turning himself in for committing sex crimes, in 2018, Kelly released a 19-minute song admitting that he’s “made some mistakes.” The admission is widely considered unsatisfactory and “too little, too late.”
So what happens now?
Many of the past survivors have either moved on, have some type of litigation against Kelly or are trying to warn others. We as well, are trying to do the latter.
Sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape obviously are sex offenses. But they have little to do with sex itself. The people who are making headlines for their exploitation of women employed by their company likely have had no shortage of opportunities for consensual sex. Sexual predators have plenty ofsexual experience but it is shallow. Sex is a control operation for them. They ordain the time and place of the encounter. Seeking a conquest is the overriding aspect. The perpetrator cares little what his “partner” experiences. The idea is to conquer a body, not have a relationship. Achieving his objective provides him with a buildup. He has sex on his mind a great deal of the time, looking at females as potential targets.
According to Psychology Today, in his approach to potential sexual targets, the individual regards himself as irresistible and seeks to have this affirmed. He is certain that any person whom he finds desirable will be attracted to him. A friendly smile may confirm that he is desired and that he can proceed with his conquest. This thinking occurs even with complete strangers whom he quickly regards as his property.
The person who exposes himself hopes to entice someone into a sexual act. He seeks an admiring gaze and directs that gaze. He may do this by walking around naked. He experiences excitement in fantasizing and in the exhibitionism itself.
The assertion of power is most obvious in sexual assault and rape in which the perpetrator forcefully takes “possession” of his target. Again, this has nothing to do with sexual need. Men who have an active and varied sexual life at home still attack women. It is characteristic that, both in fantasy and action, they find it most exciting to use force in making their conquest.
Here are three tips to protect your child from a sexual predator, no matter the age:
1. A predator might isolate your child by involving him or her in fun activities that require them to be…
… alone together. Part of the manipulation process is lowering the inhibitions of children. A skilled predator who can get children into a situation where they must change clothing or stay overnight will almost always succeed in victimizing them. An adult who invites your child to sleep over at his or her house alone should raise a red-flag warning to you.
2. A predator might touch your child in your presence so that he or she thinks that you are comfortable with the touching. This act might be as simple as draping an arm over the child’s shoulder or asking for a hug to say goodbye. Be aware of your child’s reactions to other adult’s touches. Does your child stiffen or seem uncomfortable? Also, never force your child to show affection to anyone when they aren’t comfortable doing so. This leaves the impression that forced physical contact is okay.
3. Keep in mind that the first physical contact between a predator and his or her victim is often nonsexual and designed to desensitize the child. It breaks down inhibitions and leads to more overt sexual touching. It may begin as an “accidental” bump or rub, an arm around the shoulder, a brushing of hair. Teach your children that any physical contact between child and adult is something to be wary of and questioned.