On Friday, June 6, 2002, R. Kelly, 35, surrendered himself to booked by Chicago, Illinois police, where the judicial process in his child pornography case will start on June 26 at 9 a.m. Kelly entered the Cook County Criminal Courts Building and was immediately handcuffed and sent to a nearby police station so that his case could be processed, have a hearing, and post posted an additional $750,000 bond. His first court date will include the presentation of evidence and the setting of a possible trial date.

Kelly appeared on Thursday in front of Polk County Judge Karla Wright in Bartow, Florida, after spending the night in jail. Unshaven and clad in a jail uniform, he was quiet, frowned slightly, and was teary-eyed. The judge ordered that he not have contact with minor children not related by blood or marriage. His bail was set for $750,000 -- he posted the required 10 percent.

According to one of his lawyers, Edward Genson, Kelly would not pose a flight risk and would return to Chicago "as soon as he gets his composure, as soon as he sees his wife and kisses his babies, as soon as he puts on a new set of clothes and is able to get a few hours' sleep."

On Wednesday, Kelly had been arrested at his Davenport, Florida residence, outside of Orlando, hours after a grand jury indicted him on 21 counts of child pornography, related to a videotape that allegedly shows him performing various sexual acts with a minor, who is believed to be the niece of a former protégé¹ of Kelly¹s, Sparkle. The girl, who was 14 at the time of the tape, as well as her parents, deny the allegations. In a statement on Wednesday, Kelly said, "even though I don't believe any of these charges are warranted, I'm grateful that I will have a chance to establish the truth about me in a court of law."

An investigation was launched February 1, 2002 after the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper turned over an anonymous videotape to the Chicago police¹s sex crimes unit. More than 50 witnesses testified before the grand jury, identifying Kelly as the person in the video. The FBI crime lab in Virginia have authenticated the tape and say it has not been tampered with. Prosecutors claim the tape was made in November 1997 or after and say the girl was born in September 1984. Police Superintendent, Terry Hillard states that "it's unfortunate to see Mr. Kelly's talents go to waste, but it becomes a tragedy when behavior damages a community. The fact that he is a celebrity is of no importance to us."

Kelly¹s charges break down into seven counts of videotaping the sex acts, seven counts of producing the video, and seven counts of soliciting or enticing the girl into having the acts. Illinois child pornography laws prohibit the videotaping of public intercourse, oral sex, urination, molestation, and masturbation.

Legal analysts say it will be hard to convict him in criminal court. Prosecutors will have to prove without a shadow of doubt that Kelly is the man in the video and that the girl was under 17. The case could depend on the girl changing her mind and cooperating with authorities. Even if prosecutors can get her on the stand, reluctantly, that would allow the jury a chance to compare her to the girl on the tape with their own eyes.

For years, there have been rumors of Kelly¹s sexual exploits with underage teenage girls. Kelly maintains that he is innocent and has stated publically on TV that he is not the man in the video, despite not viewing the tape himself. His attorney says the girl was not underage and that "the claims in this case are unfounded. The charge is that there's a young lady under the age of 18 on that tape and there isn't."

A fourth law suit was filed on Monday by a 33-year-old dancer who claims to be unlawfully videotaped in the bootleg video, R.Kelly Triple-X. Kelly plans to fight this suit, despite having settled his three previous ones.

If Kelly is convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $100,000.

Kelly is married to one of his former dancers and together they have two young daughters and an infant son.

Protests in Chicago Break R.Kelly's Silence

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On Thursday, April 4, an anti-R.Kelly protest took place in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. R.Kelly defended himself for the first time since the night of his Winter Olympic Games opening ceremonies. He called a local radio station, WGCI-FM, imploring fans to stand by him as he faces allegations of have sex with minors on the infamous videotape. Kelly said, "When you're famous, they expect you to work miracles, and I'm not God."

Kelly phoned in after 10 protestors destroyed his CDs at the offices of the radio station urging them as well as other stations to stop playing the singer's music until he explains "to the Black community why someone is putting him on tape having sex and urinating on minors," said Rev. Bamani Obadele, who led the protest along with Rep. Ken Dunkin.

Power Club, a nonprofit group, has announced a national boycott of his music and merchandise. Kevin Ammons, the club's president states that "someone has to take a stand. I don't feel Mr. Kelly should be allowed to get away with the manipulation of our children."

In related news, R.Kelly settled a lawsuit with former Epic Records intern Tracy Sampson earlier in the week for an undisclosed amount. She says that he coerced her into having group sex when she was 17. The attorney who represented both girls has two more clients making similar allegations.

The Chicago police are continuing their investigation but have not come any closer to formally charging Kelly of the sex crimes. They have been interviewing the parents of students at Oak Park-River Forest High School about the tape. The police are are also asking parents to identify a photo of the girl that was made from the videotape. R&B singer Sparkle, a former protégé of Kelly's, says the girl is her niece and that she was definitely 14 at the time of the taping.

Kelly previously denied the allegations back in February during an exclusive interview in Salt Lake City, Utah, with Chicago's NBC-affiliate WMAQ, Channel 5. According to Kelly, "[My attorney] told me not to say anything, but I feel like I owe my fans, I owe you guys. I owe the world because the world is getting ready to watch me sing a song called 'World's Greatest' and you got a tape out there trying to ruin my career. It's not true and I know nothing about why people would do that. All I know is this: I have a few people in the past that I've fired in my past, people that I thought were my friends that were not my friends. It's very difficult for me because I'm innocent. It upsets me really bad because you know what I'm saying, first of all, I'm not aware of anything like that and for people, unknown people, to make those statements against me is ridiculous . . . I have an ex-manager, you know, that I let go awhile ago. And ever since these people have been trying to come at me and trying to blackmail me. The reason these things are happening, I really do believe, is because of the fact that I didn't fall back as far as blackmail is concerned. I didn't give them any money."

Copies of the sex have surfaced on the streets of New York City and bootleggers have taken to hocking it in DVD format, called "The R.Kelly Rated X Files." The videotape version is called "Rated R. Kelly Triple XXX, Vol.1." Prices range from $10 to $50 depending on clarity.

Kelly's Los Angeles attorney, Gerald Margolis, said his client has never had sex with an underage girl. Def Jam president, Kevin Liles, says the label will not promote Kelly's latest effort, a collaboration with rapper Jay-Z, "The Best of Both Worlds." Def Jam doesn't want to have any appearance of impropriety.

Chicago Police Investigate R. Kelly Sex Scandal with Underage Girls

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February 8, 2002 - Why is it that our most successful, crowned princes always seem to fall prey to scandal -- their own addictions a catalyst for their own demise. First, there's the three Mikes - Mike Tyson can't seem to get it right, he likes to bite and is constantly assaulted with rape charges. Mike Jordan may be an adulterer. Mike Jackson thinks he's white. Plus, there's the Juice - O.J. Simpson stays in the news, be it drugs or a missing girlfriend.Then there's R.Kelly, the acclaimed singer-songwriting brotha who's like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde when it comes to his musical persona. One minute he's Mr. Bump-N-Grind, the next he "Believes He Can Fly", then he be "Thuggin" and smug in his false security and invincibility about being "The World's Greatest."

Accusations of having sexual relations with underage girls, averaging age 15, have plagued R.Kelly, since his rumored marriage to our beloved Aaliyah when she was only 15 in 1994. Kelly has been sued twice by women who claim physical and emotional suffering from relationships with him. In late 1996, Tiffany Hawkins sued for $10 million, because he allegedly made her drop out of school, have sex with him, and participate in group sex with him and other underage girls. The suit was settled in 1998 for $250,000. He was also supposedly involved with a 17-year old during this time, who lost her virginity to him and was coerced into oral sex with another girl, etc.

Police in Chicago, Illinois have placed R.Kelly under investigation for allegations that the videotaped sex with a minor. A spokesperson for CPD, Officer Patrice Harper, has confirmed that 35-year-old Kelly is indeed under investigation, but would not confirm if they were in possession of a videotape. This tape is 26 minutes and 39 seconds and was mailed anonymously to the Chicago Sun-Times, who did an expose on Kelly in December 2000. The minor in the video is now 17 and was identified by her aunt. A background TV dates the time of the tape because of music playing and commercials played to late 1998/early 1999. Police have been investigating allegations with this particular girl for about three years, however, both the girl and the parents denied she was having relations with Kelly. Without evidence and testimony, charges could not be pressed. The video makes it a possibility, now. It is against the law in Illinois for adult men to have sex with girls under the age of 17; it is a felony to videotape sex acts with anyone under 18.

In the tape, R.Kelly supposedly calls the girl by her name and is very aware of the camera, often times readjusting the angles. Kelly's attorney, John M. Touhy, claims the tape is forged and that the timing is not coincidental. Kelly will be part of the opening act at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and he was the halftime act at Soldier Field during the Bears-Eagles game a few weeks ago.

In 1996, Kelly married a 22-year old dancer from his entourage. They have two children.

What do you think about this article and the investigation into R.Kelly? Let us know and we'll post your comments.

Reader Comments

I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE SUCH AGREE WITH BUT AS YOUNG BLACK WOMEN 21 I TOTALLY BLAME THE GIRLS CAUSE THEY PUT THERE SELF OUT THERE TO THAT MAN CAUSE NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY WAS THEY STILL KNOW RIGHT FORM WRONG THEY JUST WANNA SOME MONEY THAT'S WHAT MOST FO THE YOUNG GIRLS ALL ABOUT IN DAYS IN TIME CAUSE AS YOU LOOK BACK TO SOME OF THE TALK SHOWS WHAT YOU YOUNG TEENS SLEEP WITH OLDER MAN FOR THE MONEY FIRST OF ALL I BLAME THE MOTHER CAUSE AS BEEN A MOTHER YOU SHOULD TELL YOUR CHILD THAT IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT BEEN WITH A MAN FOR MONEY TEACH YOUR CHILD THAT ALWAYS BE INDEPEDENT FOR YOURSELF.AS I WAS READ ONE COMMENT SOMEONE SAID IT'S A SHAME HOW R KELLY TOOK THE ADVANTAGE OF THEM YOUNG GIRLS THATS NOT TRUE GIRLS LET MENS TAKE THE ADVANTAGE OF THEM BY THE WAY THEY CARRY THERE SELF AROUND MENS IN THE WORD TODAY BUT AS I END THIS BY SAYIN ALL YOUNG GIRLS,WOMENS CARRY YOURSELF WITH RESPECT SO THAT YOU CAN GET RESPECT.R KELLY I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY BE LOOKIN DOWN ON YOU BUT REMEMBER GOD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU IN I WILL ALWAYS KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYERS.

FROM YOUR NUMBER 1 FAN

QUINSHAN MURPHY

I LOVE YOU!!!

7/24/03

well im put it like this if the bi*** was in school or at home or at the movies it wouldn't happened and for r. kelly it good for you because you no you a singer and you could of whened to pay one of this grown woman to be in the video so now you have to go to jail next time keep your fireengaine in your pants

-Peagri 4/30/03

Guilty or Not

I really don't think that Kelly did this. Then again he did marry 15 year old Aaliyah. I have watched the tape over and over again There are certain scenes that resemble him. Some of the girls really don't look underage either. Maybe they lied to him. Maybe they didn't. The one scene in particular with the little girl, I can't make out who it is. I think she wants some money. Her aunt, mother, whoever it is probably knew all along that the girl was sexually active and now that she found out or thinks that it's R. Kelly that screwed her, she wants to make a big deal out of it. I don't know about him urinating on the girl though. At the beginning of their ordeal, he gave her some cash. She was paid to be down with whatever. The man having sex with her probably urinated on her because she did it on his floor. She got paid to get urinated on and if she felt uncomfortable with it she should have taken her hot tail home. The world knows that Kelly is a freak and if you don't, all you have to do is listen to his music. She allowed whoever it was to record her being promiscuous now she wants to sue because it's out in the open. AIN'T THAT SOME BULL. I feel like this, maybe it was Kelly, maybe it wasn't. I'm going to continue to be a fan either way. I could see if she didn't get paid. But, she got paid to be down with it. I feel sorry for their reputations. I'm not going to call her nasty or anything but, YUCK! Ameera

5/23/03

R.Kelly's Issues

I know that I am a year late, but I would like to address the issue of R. Kelly's actions. First of we (Blacks) need to stop re-introducing race to every problem that involves a dark skinned man to a "whole" issue. We need to start understanding that action are the person not the race. We tend to re-enforce beliefs that all blacks are represenative of the black race. Mr. Kelly is judged more harshly because he is black, but that don't excuse the allegations.
What we have to understand that we have a man and child engaged in sexual conduct which is unlawful when the minor has not reached the age of majority. Consensual or non-consenual we must not "pray" for the fallen brother but react. Urban culture is a very lucrative culture but it also promotes ignorance when we applaud the street thug to "give her she asked for" or "she's a whore because she accepted money". We tend to say that "our n**** is getting clocked by white man's system". We create the reality that exist in urban metaphores by using the adage to get paid or played. God existence in our time has decrease because we are on missions to be "THAT N****" there are some whom accept the low self esteem handout of welfare with pride and barter it with ignorance. With knowledge we should accept subsidies to flourish with pride... Yes our color is an identifier of our identity but the action of one should not "REPRESENT". Mr. Kelly talents are immeasurable but it must be understood that we have mother, sister,aunts, daughter, and grandmother whom at one time or another was 13 or should I say a teenager would it please anyone who care about these females be treated in such a degrading manner? The alleged acts were by no means act of respect for any female, however the true thug would have dealt with a lady instead of a girl... Who knows maybe behind the scenes animals were also used. The days of Soddom and Gommora repeating itself, now if you believe in God the days are numbered like Soddom and Gommora. Stop praying and save the babies, praying for him is not a deterrant but caning the perpatrator is..... Live as a man happens to be black rather than a black that happens to be a man....... Salaam

4/15/03

From: Resha4lifebaby@aol.com
To: webmaster@dvercity.com
In my opinion, I think R. Kelly is not guilty. Today, and in this world it's all about the money in famous people. I hear people talk about it everyday and I know for a fact I will continue to hear people talk about it. I agree when I was reading one comment a reader said he/she think that if the girls parents had already denied relations something is terribly wrong. In this world there's a wicked system of all kinds of things and you can do a whole lot of tricks with camera's. You can make someone sound like you and it's not even you. People are good at impersonating or imitating other people and it just puts all the drama, stress, and pain on YOU. Life isn't fair and I know he has better since that that, and I he's totally innocent. Now I'm only 13 years old but I have alot of friends that like to date older men but you can't just look at the man you have to look at the girl too, because she's going to want to make a choice of whether or not she wants to have sex with the opposite sex. There a fast girls that want to be older than their age, but they dont realize that childhood is the best hood you'll ever live because those first real 18 years you have to learn and make choices for the future so you basically have more time to have sex when your over 18 then when you're living those 18 years of your life. I'm still learning things in life but I support R.Kelly as a big fan of his and so does my mom so I know that my opinions aren't going too far. A while back the people that use to listen to his music and loved his songs but some of it decreased because its not the same people that are listenin to it now. But I will tell you, I'm not one of those fans because this has nothing to do with his music, this is his personal life and you shouldn't put more stress on him than he already has. It's best to keep things to yourself especially when it's really negative. I could go on and on about it but I respect him and his music because I love both.

Elviresha

I honestly think that R.Kelly is not guilty and I think that if her and her parents already denied relations then something is wrong. Plus I truly believe that R. Kelly has sense enough not to go around urinating in other girls. Sure it may have happened in the past but, I don't think he the kind of person where he would have to go all the way just for his eyes to open up for reality. And if R. Kelly is guilty why would he have made these songs with Jay Z knowing for fact that if he went down that the cd's would not sell. Also, I do believe that one could not look in the mirror without shame of what they did and make a song such as "The World Greatest." I do belive that R. Kelly is innocent and I will forever be his fan and help in any way to support him.

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I am personally hurt due to the news of the sex act and everything, but in my mind and heart I feel that we all have no reason to judge anyone else. None of us are more superior than the other and lets not act like our own sh*t does not stink. We all make mistakes and have all made mistakes. I'm tired of reading other people's opinions trying to make it seem as if they are gods and goddesses. For many years we constantly support polititians that have been locked up for all kinds of crimes and have even committed many of the crimes while in office. R. Kelly is a very talented person, I have personally grown to love his music and style as I'm sure many of you have also...why change now? Yes, what he did was very wrong, but who's to say that the girl didn't pursue him? Ladies, you should know that when it comes to sex, most men have a short mind span!! Who's also to say that he actually knew how old she really was...I know MANY females that lie about their age regardless of if it's believable or not. He was completely wrong for videotaping it in the first place....if it was really him. Like others have said...technology is highly advanced now and days and there are people out there trying to ruin people's careers....Let's leave the judging up to the Lord up above and stop the Hate people.

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I FEEL THAT IT IS TIME FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW... NOT EVEN R. KELLY ... HE SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE.. BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS HE IS GUILTY ... HE HAS A FETISH WITH CHILDREN AND PERFORMING SEXUAL ACTS.. I WAS HAPPY WHEN THEY ARRESTED HIM ON THE OTHER DAY .. HOPEFULLY AMERICA WILL WAKE UP AND SEE THAT ... WRONG IS WRONG AND WILL BE DEALT WITH IF CAUGHT!!!! SIGNED SERIOUSLY ANGRY !!!! Angela

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What is going on in the world today? Everyday I see young girls exposing themselves by wearing provocative clothing. Do they dress this way because it makes them feel good inside? I don't believe that. Someone has given these girls some type of attention which has in turn encouraged them to be promiscuous. In my opinion if the tape has R. Kelly and a minor on it having sex, it's up to the parents of this girl to file charges against him. I also believe that the parents should take some responsibility. Were they aware that their child was sexually active and where did they think she was when the tape was being made? Does anyone notice how many young girls are walking around pregnant or with babies? Go to your local high school and you'll see that most young girls are having intercourse with guys who are 18 years and over. Should they all go to jail? I believe these young girls are not as naive as we think they are. Speaking from experience, I have knowingly had sex with a man who was over 18 and I was 16. Should he have gone to jail? H... no! Open your eyes everyone, things aren't the way they use to be. I'm 29 years old and I've seen it all. Phyllis

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This is not a "sad day" for the black community; nor is it a simple case of a young woman knowing what she wanted and doing what she wanted. There's a reason laws exist regarding sex with minors, and those laws can best be summed up with the question: If that were your daughter, on videotape or not, how would you feel? You might be okay with it, but the majority of parents would not be, and typically laws are based on the will of the majority. And as for whether Mr. Kelly would be so stupid as to tape himself in the act, that remains to be seen, because -- black or not -- he is still innocent until proven guilty. I say "black or not" because, hard as it may be to believe, people of all colors do some pretty nasty things and sometimes they do get caught.

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I'd like to see it; before we convict him of what we know he's guilty of.

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R Kelly is guilty. Being the only adult in the situation, the responsibility rests firmly on his shoulders as to what took place. People should learn not to make excuses for stars just because they like their music. He has a pattern for this type of behavior and it should be stopped. A man with his fame has the opportunity to have sexual intercourse with countless women who are least 18 years of age including his wife. He consciously chose to have sex with underage girls. MARQ

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I 'm going to say something that everyone not going to agree with but, as a young black women, 19, I don't totally blame Kelly. It's fun how they all start falling out the woodworks once the tape hit the scene. Don't get me wrong I don't agree with what he possibly( innocent until proven gulity) did to the little 14 year-old girl "I ain't got that" but, I notice something when I saw a few clips of the tape. What's upwith the braids. I had never seen this man, as much as he stays in the spotlight, with hair before the 2000, and in 1996 he was promoting his album & soundtracks. Everyone is so ready to convict him as if they are judge (but I could have swore that was GOD's JOB) just because of a video tape. People don't realize what kind of technology is out there, did you know Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and more have all used another person's body part in the movie and the audience was none the wiser, so really take the time think before you judge. Now I'm not some gone R. Kelly fan that can't see the truth, what I am though is a child of God that knows everyone may do things that are not pleasing unto Lord, and there it is the Lord's job to forgive him. I honestly believe that Kelly has done somethings with females that he is not proud of, Aaliyah may be a prime example. I also believe in free-will, a lot of girls claiming they were 17 when al this took place baby in a couple more months she you have been 18 and there would be no problems. So I think that some of these girls accusing this man were just so inticided by his lifestyle willing did what they thought could pull R. Kelly. I don't know, maybe turned some down and now it's revenge time. I just want people to realize is that there is always two sides of the story, you just have to be ready to hear it. And remember the worst case scenario is printed first. Two-Sides of the Story_19

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Everyone turned their backs when he and Aaliyah were "married". People (including myself) still bought his records and made him more famous and richer. We should have known then that there was a problem. I was willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt, until he was charged with the crime. Now that he is charged where do you go from here? Do you make excuses (ie. it takes two to tango, she was old enough to know what not to do with a grown man)? Regardless, it happened. R. Kelly being the older one by 10 plus years is the more guilty party. PERIOD!!! Everyone has been 14-17 years old and know that our sense of judgment isn't the best. To impress our friends is priority on our list. Our self esteem isn't at it's highest either. So when you have a superstar coming at you that once again is 10 plus your senior what would you do? I personally have not a clue what I would have done but we don't know what her frame of mind was. In all actuality we don't know either party but what we do know is R. Kelly should have known better. With him being an adult he should have realized that there are plenty females that are of age that wouldn't have minded doing whatever if not more explicit sexual acts with him. He could've found plenty of females that "looked young for their age" and pretended that they were teenagers. My point is that there were so many ways out of this and he didn't think of them. He is a very talented man and wasted it all on some bull****. Whether good our bad, whether guilty or innocent, he deserves what's coming to him. Thank you Mia Taylor

* * *

I think it is a real shame how someone with such talent and who thousands admire can use all that to take advantage of young girls. I mean why are you looking to prey on young girls? Is it because you can't get satisfy yourself with a grown woman? Or perhaps it is because young girls are easy to manipulate and don't know any better. I am a fan of this man's music but now I can say that his actions disgust me and his lack of respect for women have made me no longer want to even listen to anything he has to say. sincerely disappointed and disgusted

* * *

You have to be crazy to think that this is the girls fault. She was young and stupid. He was old, rich, famous and powerful. She was probably dumb enough to think that she would get something out of it but, he probably made promises to her. I feel sorry for him because I think he has a sickness. On the other hand, I am not gullible enough to believe that he is 100% innocent. R. Kelly, if you did it, may the courts deal with you to the harshest of degrees. If you didn't, may God bless you and keep you in his loving hands always. I truly hope he didn't do it. If you commit a crime, one thing you have left is your integrity. With integrity in place, you can always rebound after you have been punished. Integrity is lost when someone lies to their fans on every news show available. MAN, I HOPE YOU HAVEN'T LOST YOUR INTEGRITY!!! Tony

* * *

Personally I think that he did it, but I also think that some people lie about it. Because if i see that one girl got money for saying that she had sex with him, then why can't I say the same thing. Also this video tape thing is also stupid, because you can get all kinds of e-mails with famous guys and girls and half of them are some one else's body with a famous person's head. Now I stand behind R. Kelly and I hope he makes it through this strong and is able to keep his career up because he is very talented. ~Elyse Williams

* * *

I believe he's a lie. R. Kelly is a very sick individual who should serve 15 years in prison because of the molestation of young girls age 15. I saw the video and it is so degrading the way he urinated on that baby, her body is not yet fully develop and he making her ride and suck his penis. If I had my way he would be castrated and put in jail with sex offenders who would treat him the same disgusting way as he did to that little girl. It is a shame that in this country and child can't have a childhood and is forced to become an adult before their time. Someone needs to put a stop to this

* * *

I saw the tape and in my opinion the clarity of the tape makes it kinda hard to tell if it's r. Kelly. Also it is very obvious to me that if this girl was 14 at the time, she had a little to much experience sex wise and she was well aware that the tape was there. The things she was doing I could not even imagine my 13 yr old sister knowing how to do. I also saw her get paid in the begining of the tape. So maybe that is why the girl has not come forward who knows until all the evidence is presented. Right now I am on no ones side. P.

* * *

do you know how many child molesters and child pron. tapes ther are around the us? The only reason why this is getting so much focus is because this is r. kelly, a famous person whose life is opened to the public..... He is a human being like the rest of us, we fall down but we get up... Instead of being so judgemental, pray for him and worry about whats in your own closet.

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Personally, I think that the tape is made to ruin the man. There are alot of things you can do with a video tape and a computer. How do you think they edit magazine covers and make graphic in a movie. The same can be done to a video tape. True enough he is known to date younger women but I dont think that the man is that dumb to make a tape of having sex with a young girl and take the chances of someone seeing it. I mean, think about it. But if he is guilty, it is not for us to decide his fate. That will be God's place and his only. The best we can do is pray for him and the family of the girl in this situation. We are too focused on him being a star and what he is in the music business. What about what the girl is going through? Having her face all over the tv screen and her being so young, she didnt know what she was doing. But who ever was responsible ought to be ashamed for munipulating a young girl and thinking that they could get away with it. Much love and prayers go out to the Kelly family and the family of the young girl.

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first off yes that is nasty but why all of a sudden people is hating for one it happend 3 years ago it takes 2 to tangle im pretty shore she said yes it was alright to do so or what ever he did and also some of these slimmy men on the streets be hitting on young girls but you aint tryn to hate on them so dont hate on someone just cause he famous, the girl is older now she should of thought about what she was doing and so should r kelly he should know better but still it takes 2

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I think R. Kelly should be ashamed of himself for two reasons. 1) He knows he can take advantage of young girls with his fame, flash and money. 2) Not caring for these young girls saftey. Meaning- He is well aware of HIV & AIDS. I saw the tape for myself and saw no condoms anywhere. I think he should be banned from concerts and the Olympics. It should have been clear to all of us back in 1994 when he took advantage of Aaliyah. Once a rapist always a rapist. Just think of it being your child.

Taneitra Wheeler

* * *

I think if the girls parents don't wont to press charges than they should just R-Kelly along and let him go about his business and let her go about hers because she had know business having sex with him in the first place and she wasn't nothing but a hoe if she had sex with him for money.

* * *

R Kelly should confess and acknowlege that he did this act, appoligize, asks for forgiveness, seek help then move on. There also should be a law on these young girls throwing themselves on older man and maybe they would stop. Everytime you turn on a video, these some female showing there a#s and Ti#s, so what do you expect. The entertainment industries promote sex, so when the act is actual done then they want to make a big deal out of it. The music industry should take some of the blame and stop selling their soul to the devil . What does it profit a man to gain the world, just to lose his soul.

Brenda B

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If you tell me where in the world are these people seeing this "trashy child pornography," and why they would even watch it, because they are trash themselves. I have not viewed the tape because I know no one with the tape. Furthermore, how in the hell can anyone look at someone and tell there age. Many times in my life I have been accused of being younger than what I really am. Also many times I have encountered women who appear in looks to be 14 or 15 in fact they were 18 and 19 so what does looks mean, also have any of these girls believed to be as young as 13 even came forward and said that's me and I was only 13? No, they have not! So for Christ sake until there is some
HARD Verbal Proof from one of the women in the tape assume they are women and leave in my opinion one of the greatest musical talents of my time alone.

Thank You

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I think that R. Kelly is wrong for what he has done, but you also have to think about the girl. Sparkle's niece should have known better to go to bed with a grown man evidently she wanted what she got. This isn't an one sided story she's not so innocent ok. R. Kelly is a very well respected songwriter/producer.I bet you anything it's one in every 100 men have messed around with a young girl. Girls these days look like older women, because of the way they carry themselves. Not saying that this young girl don't carry herself with respect, but she knew what she was doing. R. Kelly can't be the only older man she's had sex with. Readers don't let this child fool you. Most young girls like to experience older men for the first time they what to see what it feels like to have a older man inside them. That little girl probably was scared, because she was in front of a camera for the first time. You better think about it. Someone must have found out about she had slept with him that's why she did what she did by telling on him. She might be fooling Sparkle, and her family, but she sure isn't fooling me.

Denise Smith

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I think if there's solid evidence that R. Kelly knowingly had sex with a minor, he should be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent. However, I am very suspicious of the newspaper that leaked this information, being that they are the only major media outlet that seems to have the inside information on R. Kelly's business. I don't see this story in USA Today or any cable news shows. My point is that the Chicago Sun-Times has an obvious bias against R. Kelly and is not above spreading damaging and possibly unverified information in order to sell newspapers.

Julian R. Johnson

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I saw the tape on the streets, some guys were playing it in the back of their van. I do not have a copy! On the tape you can clearly see that it is R Kelly. I think the tape is disgusting! He is a pig in my eyes. Every bad soldier eventually falls on their on sword. I hope this sword cuts off his penis!! I will never support his music and I never have. I believe that is was time for R Kelly to fall he has gotten away with this crap every since Aaliayh. However everything happens in divine order. If I believed someone falsely accused me of something this sensitive and serious I would have been on every talk show and radio station defending myself. However when you have no defense you can't defend your self. I hope he falls!!!! So many young girls are taken advantage of used and abused. The courts should make an example out of R Kelly to show the rest of our rich black or white men that think they are above the law and feel they can get away with such a hideous crime. May the Lord bless every young girls life and reputation R Kelly has ruined. Anyone that supports this pedophile is just as guilty as he.

Lynette Moss

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This is a sad situation for the black community. Are black males are unable to stay out of the spotlight when it comes to thing they shouldn't be doing. R. Kelly is a wonderful songwriter and composer, but the man obviously has problems. I did not want to believe that he would do something so horrible but after walking in on a viewing of a bootleg copy of the affair, I was shocked to see that the man in the tape was the R&B singer who I had came to love. True indeed he may not have known the girl was very young (although she looks about 15) and maybe it could be digitally mastered but whatever the case the man looks exacty like Kelly and the girl is a minor. All in all I really hope that this mattered is settled quickly because with it being dragged on, there is only bad publicity streaming about the black community in Hollywood. I wish the best of luck to the family and to R. Kelly they all need help, especially Mr. Kelly. Let's just hope that the man up above can right what seems to be wrong.

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I seen the tape and you can tell that she was a young girl trying to do
what he wanted. She was so young and didn't know what she was doing and
I feel sorry for her because she's gonna realize how gullible she was.

LaShonda DeVaughn

Discussion Forum

R.Kelly Surrenders to Chicago Police