R Kelly charged with 11 new counts of sexual misconduct
Note: The following article contains discussion of sexual misconduct allegations that some readers may find upsetting.
Updated 30/5/19: R Kelly is facing new counts of sexual misconduct in Illinois after pleading not guilty to previous charges earlier in the year.
The 'I Believe I Can Fly' singer was charged with 11 new Class X counts, including criminal sexual assault, by Cook County prosecutors on Thursday (May 30). Some of these charges rank only below first-degree murder in terms of severity in the Illinois justice system, carrying between 6 and 30 years in prison.
In total, he'll face four counts aggravated criminal sexual assault, two counts of criminal sexual assault by force, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against a victim between the ages of 13 to 16.
Prosecutors have added these new counts onto sexual assault allegations stemming from one of the women involved in prior charges filed against Kelly, according to his lawyer. The singer pled not guilty to those previous charges.
In response to Thursday's court filing, his attorney told the Chicago Sun-Times: "We’ll see what the charges are, and we’ll proceed accordingly. I know this much: It’s old. They’re allegations from years ago."
The recent criminal investigations into the musician's conduct were sparked by the broadcast of the documentary series Surviving R. Kelly, which included interviews with women who alleged they were sexually assaulted by him. Kelly has always denied wrongdoing.
Updated 25/2/19: R Kelly has formally entered a plea to charges of sexual abuse after spending the weekend in a Chicago jail.
The musician appeared in court on Monday (February 25) to plead not guilty to 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, reports CNN.
That plea was entered by Kelly's lawyer Steve Greenberg, who also told the judge that the singer had turned over his passport. Kelly has still not posted $100,000 bail and remains behind bars.
He is next scheduled to appear in court on Friday, March 22.
Updated 23/2/19: R Kelly handed himself in to police in Chicago on Friday (February 22) after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
The singer is now set to appear at a bond hearing on Saturday.
BREAKING: R&B singer R. Kelly has arrived at a Chicago police precinct.
- The Associated Press (@AP) February 23, 2019
Speaking to The Associated Press (via BBC), R Kelly's lawyer Steve Greenberg said that his client is "shell-shocked" and "extraordinarily disappointed and depressed" by the charges, adding that he maintains his innocence.
Updated 22/2/19: R Kelly is facing his first set of criminal charges following a new wave of sexual abuse allegations.
In the wake of the Surviving R Kelly documentary airing on Lifetime in the US and Crime + Investigation in the UK, law enforcement agencies have pursued multiple lines of enquiry about the singer in Georgia and Illinois.
On Friday, Kelly was formally charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse by prosecutors representing Cook County, Illinois - which encompasses the Chicago area.
Kelly's attorney Steven Greenberg has said that the singer strenuously denies any wrongdoing. He will next be scheduled for a court hearing on Friday, March 8 (via The Chicago Sun Times).
Earlier in the week, Kelly agreed to vacate the Chicago building that houses his recording studio when a judge placed strict curfew restrictions limiting work there to take place between 9am and 9pm.
"The judge’s ruling was without any logical rationale. A building that is structurally sound for use as a recording studio for an hour is sound all day,” his lawyer Greenberg said in a statement to Rolling Stone. “R Kelly can never be creative and do his job under these circumstances which leaves him no choice but to leave his building.”
Updated 18/1/19: R. Kelly and his long-time record label have parted ways amid abuse allegations.
News broke on Friday (January 18) via Billboard that the 'I Believe I Can Fly' singer and Sony have agreed to terminate their record contract following the outcry over the documentary series Surviving R Kelly, which airs on Crime + Investigation on February 5 in the UK.
Sony has not yet officially commented. R Kelly has always denied any wrongdoing.
Original: R Kelly is facing a criminal investigation over misconduct allegations made in the new TV miniseries Surviving R Kelly.
The series, which will premiere on Crime + Investigation on February 5 in the UK, includes on-camera interviews with several women who alleged that they were sexually abused by the 'I Believe I Can Fly' singer.
TMZ reports that Fulton County, Georgia investigators received numerous calls once the episodes started airing in the US last Thursday (January 3), and they are still hoping to speak with more women featured. The district attorney's office has made no public comment on its investigation.
In Illinois, State Attorney Kim Foxx stopped short of opening up her own criminal investigation at this stage, but did urge members of the public to come forward if they had any relevant information. Thus far, two parties have spoken to Foxx's office regarding allegations about Kelly.
"Listening to survivors and giving survivors a platform to tell their stories was heartbreaking," she said during a press conference.
Foxx also told reporters that the allegations of sexual abuse made against Kelly "sickened" her both as a mother and as a prosecutor.
Surviving R Kelly was spearheaded by feminist author and filmmaker dream hampton, and also includes appearances from Chance the Rapper and John Legend speaking out publicly against Kelly. It follows on the heels of a BBC Three documentary about the singer, which is available to stream now.
R Kelly has repeatedly denied all abuse allegations against him, including those made in the Surviving R Kelly miniseries.
Rape Crisis England and Wales works towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct. If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland’s helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
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