R. Kelly has been arrested after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated prison sexual abuse earlier right this moment. The singer turned himself in to Chicago authorities tonight (February 22), in response to Chicago Tribune reporter Meagan Crepeau. Crepeau posted a video of Kelly surrendering to police earlier this night, accompanied by his lawyer Steven Greenberg. Find that clip under.
The indictment follows the report {that a} new videotape of Kelly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl was supplied to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago by lawyer Michael Avenatti. Avenatti informed CNN that the tape was supplied to him by a person he described as a “whistleblower.” The tape, considered by CNN, reportedly exhibits Kelly performing a number of intercourse acts with a woman. Both of them allegedly confer with the woman’s physique elements as “14-year-old” within the tape.
In July 2017, journalist and critic Jim DeRogatis published a report investigating accusations in opposition to Kelly that described his alleged manipulation of six girls as a “cult.” Following the report, extra girls got here ahead to element their very own histories of sexual and physical abuse, underage intercourse, sexual coercion, and extra, all allegedly by the hands of Kelly. Following the preliminary allegations, R. Kelly’s lawyer issued an announcement saying that the singer “unequivocally denies such accusations.” The following month, he canceled tour dates for unknown causes.
In late March, a BBC3 documentary titled R Kelly: Sex, Girls and Videotapes was aired. In the movie, a former girlfriend named Kitti Jones mentioned Kelly launched her to a woman “that he told me he ‘trained’ since she was 14” to please him sexually. She additionally revealed she was groomed by Kelly and compelled into intercourse with him and not less than 10 different folks in his “sex dungeon.” Backlash to R. Kelly elevated following the discharge of the Lifetime documentary collection “Surviving R. Kelly,” with artists who had beforehand collaborated with the singer (corresponding to Chance the Rapper, Lady Gaga, and Phoenix) publicly talking out in opposition to him. After sustained protests, Kelly was dropped by his record label RCA in January 2019.
On February 21, two extra girls got here ahead alleging sexual misconduct by the hands of R. Kelly within the 1990s. One of the ladies, Latrice, claimed she was 16 when Kelly plied her with medication and alcohol earlier than partaking in sexual activity along with her “even though [she] did not have the capacity to consent.”
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