In the 90s, R. Kelly became a superstar with hits like “I Believe I Can Fly”. Even then, there were allegations of abuse against the singer. Now he has to answer in a New York court.
In the process, among other things, for sexual abuse of minors against the former pop superstar R. Kelly (54), the opening speeches are to start this Wednesday in New York.
Previously, dozens of potential jurors were interviewed at the Brooklyn borough court last week before a jury of seven men and five women was sworn in by Judge Ann Donnelly. In addition, six substitute jurors were selected. All members of the jury should remain anonymous. The musician followed the jury selection in court.
According to the indictment, Kelly has to answer for extortion and sexual exploitation of minors, among other things. Together with a team of employees, he is said to have forced girls and women to have sex for years. The musician, who has been in prison since his arrest in the summer of 2019, has repeatedly denied all allegations and accused his critics of a character assassination campaign.
The process was supposed to start in May 2020, but has been postponed several times due to the corona pandemic. The 54-year-old tried repeatedly to use the pandemic as an opportunity to be released early from custody on bail. However, these applications were repeatedly rejected.
The process should take several weeks. If convicted, the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer could face decades of imprisonment. There are also similar indictments against him in Chicago and Minnesota. Kelly had already stood before a court in Chicago in 2008 for possession of pictures of serious child sexual abuse, but had been acquitted.
The first allegations against Robert Sylvester Kelly, born in Chicago in 1967, were known about 25 years ago. But the music colossus seemed unassailable on its pop throne – with more than 50 million albums sold, several Grammys and other awards, he was one of the most successful musicians of the late 20th century.
At the latest in the course of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment, the sensational documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” summarized the allegations in 2019, the singer became more and more lonely. Stars distanced themselves from him, as did radio stations, streaming services and then his music label RCA, which belongs to Sony Music. In the summer of 2019, R. Kelly was arrested in Chicago while he was walking his dog “Believe”.
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