R. Kelly Receives His Prison Sentence
Yesterday R&B artist R. Kelly learned his fate in the courtroom for decades of sexual abuse towards fans, primarily minors. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years after facing federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. Kelly used his position of power as a famous music artist to cultivate a sexually abusive relationship with several underage fans.
This article contains accounts of sexual assault and abuse.
The trial took place in Brooklyn, where seven women and a father came forward to share their stories and deliver heartbreaking accounts. These charges come a year after the 55-year-old singer and producer was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking. Most of the survivors were women of color.
“You made me do things that broke my spirit,” shared an unnamed survivor through tears. “I literally wished I could die because of how low you make me feel.”
Lizzette Martinez, another survivor who spoke at the hearing, told reporters that she was 17 years old at the time and an “up-and-coming singer, a girl full of life” before she met Kelly at a Florida mall. She was promised mentorship but quickly became his sex slave.
Kelly showed no reaction during his hearing and declined to speak.
According to Jennifer Bonjean, Kelly’s lawyer stated that Kelly had a traumatic childhood that included “severe, prolonged childhood sexual abuse, poverty and violence,” and pleaded he shouldn’t serve more than ten years in prison.
The “I Believe I Can Fly” singer has a second trial scheduled in Chicago in August, where he will be facing charges of producing child porn. This next trial takes place 14 years after his first Illinois trial, where he was acquitted for more than dozens of counts of child pornography in 2008.
Robert Sylvester Kelly, best known as his stage name R. Kelly, was an R&B artist based in Chicago who rose to prominence in the 1990s and early 2000s. His most popular songs include “Ignition (Remix),” “Bump n’ Grind,” and “I Believe I Can Fly.” According to The New York Times, when he signed with his first record label, he started a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.
R. Kelly’s accusations of sexual assault and abuse have grown over the decades, leading to his 30-year sentencing. He has been in jail without bail since 2019.
“This case is not about sex,” emphasized Judge Ann M. Donnelly, who presided over Wednesday’s trial. “It’s about violence and cruelty and control. You taught them that love is enslavement and violence. You had a system in place that lured young people into your orbit – and then you took over their lives.”
The Internet and many of the survivors, including Martinez, think that 30 years is not long enough for the amount of pain and trauma Kelly has caused to the survivors.
“I personally don’t think it’s enough, but I’m pleased with it,” Lizzette Martinez told the New York Post.
30 years isn’t enough time for R Kelly. Should’ve been life.
— BEC (@BKuzan) June 29, 2022
Argue with your cousin with the silver tooth, not me.
I hope R. Kelly's victims can find some solace in this sentence, but their lives will still never be the same. https://t.co/Uaek21aEPl
— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) June 29, 2022
A documentary series titled Surviving R. Kelly was released in 2019, where many of the victims came forward and talked about their experiences with the Grammy-winning artist. There are also two other documentary series: Surviving R Kelly Part II: The Reckoning and Surviving R. Kelly: The Impact that provide more details and stories about his decades of sexual abuse towards women. All three documentary series are available on Netflix. Readers can watch the first documentary series Surviving R. Kelly trailer here.
R. Kelly’s next trial takes place in Chicago on August 15.
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