R. Kelly back in spotlight over abuse claims
A six-hour documentary series airing this weekend has brought American R&B star R. Kelly back into the spotlight, revisiting accusations of criminal misconduct including having sex with minors.
The Lifetime cable network show that premiered on Thursday and broadcasted subsequent episodes on Friday and yesterday sheds new light on charges against the artist, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly.
Known especially for his hit I Believe I Can Fly, the 51-year-old singer and producer was charged in 2002 with filming sex acts between him and a 14-year-old girl, but was ultimately acquitted in 2008.
The team behind Surviving R. Kelly held dozens of interviews filmed with members of the singer’s inner circle.
In the documentary, backup singers detailed sexual relations between R. Kelly and three girls under the age of 16, including then 15-year-old star Aaliyah, who died in 2001 in a plane crash.
The allegations are subject to criminal prosecution in several US states including Illinois, where R. Kelly lived as a resident of Chicago.
Aaliyah’s mother Diane Haughton called the allegations “fabrications” and accused the witnesses of being “saboteurs of Aaliyah’s legacy”.
In the documentary, women portray R. Kelly as manipulative, violent and focused on young girls, allegedly demanding they call him “daddy”.
Lizzette Martinez, who met the artist at age 17 as he was approaching his thirties, says she was a victim of “mental and physical abuse” during their relationship, which lasted years.
“He stole my life from me being abused like this,” she says in the documentary directed by filmmaker Dream Hampton.
Neither R. Kelly nor his record label RCA responded to queries.
R&B pop singer John Legend was among those who appeared in the documentary, and prior to its debut tweeted: “To everyone telling me how courageous I am for appearing in the doc, it didn’t feel risky at all.”
“I believe these women and don’t give a **** about protecting a serial child rapist,” he said. “Easy decision.”