FOR more than two decades, chart-topping R&B star R Kelly faced allegations of sexual abuse.
But it wasn’t until 2021 that the shamed star was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking.
APR Kelly is a convicted sex offender who is in jail[/caption]
Where is R Kelly now?
On September 14, 2022, R Kelly was found guilty at a Chicago federal trial of sexually abusing his 14-year-old goddaughter on videotape back in the 1990s.
The R&B singer was also guilty of sexual misconduct with two other minors around the same time period, as well.
During the 2022 trial, several accusers testified in lurid detail, alleging that Kelly subjected them to perverse and sadistic whims when they were underage
The court heard how his victims – some as young as 14 when he abused them – were choked, beaten, and told to consume their bodily fluids.
This decision marked the second time in less than a year that Kelly was convicted of serious federal child-sex crimes.
On February 23, 2023, the disgraced musician was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child sex crimes by an Illinois federal judge.
Previously R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison on June 29, 2022.
His first trial saw the singer found guilty in September 2021 on all nine charges against him.
The charges included bribery, forced labour, kidnapping, exploitation of a child, racketeering involving six alleged victims, and sexual trafficking across state lines.
The shamed star will serve his two lengthy prison terms concurrently, meaning he will serve both sentences at the same time.
R Kelly can be found residing in a jail cell at Federal Correctional Complex in North Carolina.
The shamed star’s second guilty verdict in 2022 came more than ten years after being acquitted of child pornography charges at an Illinois state trial.
Who is R Kelly?
A Chicago native, R Kelly broke into the R&B scene in 1993 with his first solo album, 12 Play.
Kelly is known for his “gospel-like vocals and highly sexualized lyrics,” according to Britannica.
He is a church-trained singer, which significantly contrasts with the messages in his music.
At age 16, Kelly and his family moved from the projects, and he was enlisted in a prestigious school, Kenwood Academy.
His teacher entered him into a local talent show to perform a Stevie Wonder song.
Years later, at 22, his then-group, MGM, had won a $100K cash prize for competing on the television show Big Break.
They eventually broke up due to a conflict over money.
AP:Associated PressR Kelly received his prison sentence on Wednesday, June 29, 2022[/caption]
What are R Kelly’s most popular songs?
The 1990s and early 2000s brought R Kelly’s music career to the top, giving him more Billboard Top 40 hits than any male solo artist.
Some of his most famous songs include Ignition (2003), and I Believe I Can Fly (1995), featured in the basketball movie Space Jam.
According to Billboard, Step in the Name of Love (2011) is his third most popular song of all time, followed by Bump n’ Grind (1993) and I Wish (2000).
How to watch Surviving R. Kelly
A documentary investigating his crimes, Surviving R Kelly, heard from alleged victims of the singer and promoted his arrest.
The powerful 2019 series was first aired on Netflix, where it can still be watched.
Channel 4 are also airing the documentary at 12.05am on April 30, 2024.
Accusations made against R Kelly and his convictions
Since the 90s, R Kelly has faced several sex crime accusations.
Some of them have been dismissed, others he is now in jail for.
Here we take a look at those accusations and the crimes he was found guilty of:
1996: Teenager Tiffany Hawkins sues Kelly for ‘inappropriate sexual conduct’ – the case was settled out of court for £250K.
2002: Kelly is charged with 21 counts of making child pornography. He is acquitted of all charges.
2017: The singer is accused of running a “sex cult” , something he denied.
2019: Kelly is arrested on federal charges alleging sex crimes, people trafficking and obstruction of justice The charges against him included child pornography, kidnapping and forced labour.
2021: The singer is found guilty in September 2021 on all nine charges against him. He is sentenced to 30 years in prison.
2022: Kelly faces a second trial, this time he is found guilty of sexually abusing his 14-year-old goddaughter and of sexual misconduct with two other minors around the same time period, as well.
2023: The shamed star is jailed for a second time, his sentence is 20 years.