R Kelly is on trial for charges ofchild pornography and obstruction of justice.
The "Bump N' Grind" singer's child pornography trial began Wednesday (August 17) in Chicago. Kelly is already serving a 30-year sentence in New York on charges of federal racketeering and sex trafficking.
The singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, rose to fame in 1989 after appearing as part of the group MGM on his television show Big Break. He started his solo career in 1993 and won multiple Grammy Awards in 1998 for his song "I Believe I Can Fly."
Throughout his career, he has consistently faced allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct, which he denies.
In 1994, Kelly, then 27, married 15-year-old singer Aaliyah in a secret wedding in Chicago. The marriage was later annulled after it was discovered that the teenager had lied about his age on his marriage certificate. Faced further accusations of having a sexual relationship with an adult woman.
He was indicted on 21 counts in June 2002 for making child sexual abuse videos containing various sexual acts.
R Kelly in court in 2019
(Getty Images)
2017 In 2013,a new investigation by Buzzfeed claimed that Kelly used six women to trap him in a sexual "cult" after they approached him about a music career. did.
The singer was accused of controlling women's lives, including what they ate, what they wore, when they went to bed, and of recording their sexual activity. The article urged more alleged victims to come forward in a six-part documentary titled Surviving R Kelly that aired on Lifetime in 2019. .
Unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts on Amazon Music Sign up today for a free 30-day trial
50} Sign UpAfter the release of the documentary, Kelly was interviewed by Gayle King on the CBS program This Morning. He claimed his innocence, stood up, beat his chest, and suspended his interview.
R Kelly breaks down in explosive interview
in July 2019, Kelly was arrested and charged with sex trafficking charges, including possession of child abuse images and obstruction of justice.
The trial in New York was postponed due to the pandemic and a last-minute restructuring of the singer's legal team.
In September 2021, after two days of jury deliberations, Kelly was found guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Shortly thereafter, a federal judge ordered the singer to stand trial in Chicago on charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice.
The trial began in August. }, a woman testified in her opening statement that Kelly had sex "hundreds of times" between the ages of 15 and 18.
Attorney Gloria Allred defended many of Kelly's accusers at Kelly's first trial
(Getty Images)
A 37-year-old woman who appeared in court under the pseudonym "Jane" told jurors that she met Kelly in her 30s in the 1990s when she was 13 years old. When she touched her breasts and he started to "penetrate" her.
Kelly has been accused of having previously paid this same witness.
Jurors are expected to be shownincriminating videos of Kelly's crimes, including videos of Kelly filming Jane at her home in the late 1990s. .
Before his legal troubles began in 2008, Kelly was known to carry around a bag containing his tapes, according to court filings.
