R. Kelly is sentenced to 30 years in prison

After numerous complaints and a series of bombastic documentaries, the Federal Court in Brooklyn, New York, sentenced Robert Sylvester Kelly, better known by his stage name of R. Kelly, to 30 years in prison this Wednesday (6/29). . Considered the king of romantic R&B of the 90s, Kelly has been accused of leading a ring of trafficking and sexual abuse.

The jury, made up of five women and seven men, found the 55-year-old artist guilty of all charges against him, accusing him of using his fame to recruit victims for sexual purposes, with the collaboration of his team.

As a result, Brooklyn Court Judge Ann Donnelly’s sentence was higher than that of the prosecution, who asked for 25 years in prison.

Prosecutors have described a “Robert Kelly-centric universe” that caused his publicists to support or turn a blind eye to the singer’s behavior, helping to cover, over the years, numerous problems stemming from criminal sexual activity with financial deals. with some of the victims.

Three-time Grammy Award winner, R. Kelly has sold over 75 million records in his career, becoming one of the most commercially successful musicians in R&B history, with hits like “I Believe I Can Fly” (from the soundtrack of the film) “Space Jam”) and “Ignition”.

At the height of his success, R. Kelly worked with Michael Jackson (“You Are Not Alone”), Janet Jackson (“Any Time, Any Place”), Jennifer Lopez (“Baby I Love U”), Toni Braxton (” I Don’t Want To “) and Britney Spears (” Outrageous “), Jay-Z (” The Best of Both Worlds “), as well as recording a duet with Celine Dion (” Gotham City “) for the soundtrack of the film “Batman and Robin” (1997).

But during this successful phase, rumors of sexual abuse also emerged, including the late singer Aaliyah. Several cases were reported, with testimonies, in the documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly”, launched by the pay channel Lifetime in 2019. The production had such repercussions as to inspire new complaints and a 2nd season in 2020.

R. Kelly will face another trial in August, this time in Chicago, where he is accused of rigging a pornographic trial in 2008 and hiding evidence of child abuse.

Source: Terra

Camila

Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.