With AAP.
Singer R Kelly has been charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse, according to a media report.
Citing court records, the Chicago Sun-Times reports the ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ singer was charged on Friday in Cook County, Illinois, with 10 counts of sexual abuse.
The publications reports authorities confirmed the charges are in relation to four victims, at least three of them minors.
Cook County prosecutors allege in an indictment that the abuse happened in instances from 1998 to 2010, records show. The minors were between 13 and 16, prosecutors allege.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx briefly went through the charges in a press conference on Friday, stating Kelly, 51, is expected to appear at a bond hearing on Saturday. Each of the 10 charges is a Class 2 felony, each carrying a three to seven-year jail sentence, or as little as probation. A judge granted a no-bail arrest warrant for Kelly, meaning he won’t be released on bail after he’s arrested.
High-profile celebrities have tweeted their reactions to the charges against Kelly, including A-list attorney Michael Avenatti, actresses Alyssa Milano and Amber Tamblyn, and comedian Rosie O’Donnell.
Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, was the subject of a documentary series titled Surviving R Kelly, in which multiple women made allegations of emotional, sexual and physical abuse against the controversial R&B artist.
The series is now available to stream on Foxtel’s On Demand service and features 52 interviews from abuse survivors and people from Kelly’s inner circle coming forward with new allegations against the singer, and uncovered a “secret life” he’s managed to keep shielded from the public.
Interviews from women’s rights activist Tarana Burke, musicians John Legend and Sparkle, talk-show host and former DJ Wendy Williams, ex-wife Andrea Kelly, ex-girlfriend Kitti Jones, brothers Cary and Bruce Kelly among others played a part in scrutinising his history of alleged abuse of underage African American girls – abuse which first became known to the public when it was revealed in 1994 that R Kelly, then 27, had married 15-year-old singer Aaliyah, forging documents to show she was 18.
Following the exposure of the illicit relationship, Kelly was sued by multiple women through the early 2000s who claimed he had sexually, physically and emotionally abused them when they were underage.
In 2002, Kelly was charged with 21 counts of making child pornography when he was accused of filming a minor participating in a number of sex acts – including one scene where a woman was reportedly urinated on. The jury eventually found the singer not guilty, as they were unable to prove whether the girl videoed was underage.
In February, Kelly announced on Instagram that he would be touring Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Although the R&B singer hadn’t yet announced venues or even dates for the supposed tour, an Australian woman launched a petition to keep the alleged abuser out of Australia.
On January 18, Kelly’s record company RCA dropped him as an artist following the release of the documentary.
More to come.
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual assault or abuse, please seek help and contact 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.