The US singer R. Kelly has been following the new allegations of serious sexual abuse of minors the police. Kelly, who had a warrant, reported to the Chicago police on Friday night and was arrested, a police spokesman said. On Saturday afternoon he should be presented to a magistrate.
On Friday, the investigators had made formal charges against the musician in ten points, nine of which relate to the abuse of minors between the ages of 13 and 16. Prosecutor Kim Foxx said the cases were from 1998 to 2010 and involved four victims, including three minors. Kelly expects between three and seven years imprisonment per charge.
Following Kelly’s detention, his lawyer Steve Greenberg said the allegations were based on old and false accusations. Greenberg said the musician will be „rehabilitated“: „I think all women are lying.“ According to the victim’s lawyer Michael Avenatti, the allegations that have since come to light are underpinned by a 45-minute video showing the singer having sex with a minor should.
„After more than 25 years of sexual abuse and sexual assault on underage girls, the day of reckoning has come for R. Kelly,“ said Avenatti, who became known through his work for porn actress Stormy Daniels in a lawsuit with US President Donald Trump via twitter. „It’s over.“ Avenatti had already communicated a few days ago, the video to the investigators in Kelly’s home in Chicago have passed.
After 25 years of serial sex abuse and assault of underage girls, the day of reckoning for R Kelly has arrived.
– Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) February 22, 2019
In January, the US station Lifetime aired a six-hour documentary „Surviving R. Kelly“ in which several women accused the singer of having sex with girls under the age of 16. Other witnesses assure that the musicians known from hits like „I Believe I Can Fly“ have kept women as well as sex slaves. As a consequence, the record label RCA announced the collaboration with Kelly. Prosecutors in different states intervened.
Web calls for Kelly boycott
The first public accusations against R. Kelly were made nearly 20 years ago. In 2002, the singer and producer was accused of filming, on which he was said to have seen the sex with a 13-year-olds. He was then charged in 14 points and was acquitted in 2008. Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, and the then alleged victim, already grown up at the time of the trial, both denied being seen on the video.
However, there is an ever increasing resistance against the singer – especially in the net. People want to boycott the singer by means of the hashtag „#MuteRKelly“ as well as petitions. Tens of thousands of people in Germany have prevented their signing a planned concert in Sindelfingen. R. Kelly has confirmed after the decision from Sindelfingen clearly to give a concert in southern Germany.
