The trial of singer, songwriter and producer R. Kelly, 54, is currently taking place in Brooklyn, New York.
Several people have claimed that Kelly sexually exploited them. In this particular trial, the performer is facing nine charges – one of racketeering and eight violations of the Mann Act, which criminalizes the transportation of any woman or girl across state lines for “immoral” purposes.
Kelly has denied all charges against him.
After several days of testimony from some of these women, yesterday, the first man to accuse Kelly of sexual exploitation took the stand.
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Related: Gayle King reveals what was going through her head when R. Kelly flipped out on her
The man, who used the pseudonym Louis, says his involvement with Kelly dated back to 2006 when he was working at night shift at McDonalds. Kelly had visited the restaurant and given the then-teenager and a colleague his number, saying they were welcome at his studio.
Louis’ mom subsequently phoned Kelly to ask him if he could help with her son’s dreams of a music career and becoming a rapper.
Kelly invited the boy and his family to a party at his Chicago mansion. Following the party, Louis – then 17 – visited Kelly’s studio on two occasions.
According to The Guardian, Louis says Kelly asked him “what I was willing to do for music.” Louis replied, “I’ll carry your bags … Anything you need, I’ll be willing to do.”
“That’s not it. That’s not it,” Louis says Kelly responded before asking if he ever fantasized about sex with men. Louis then described how Kelly “crawled down on his knees and proceeded to give me oral sex” even though “I wasn’t into it”.
Louis says that afterward, Kelly “told me to keep [the encounter] between him and me.”
On another occasion, Louis says Kelly “snapped his fingers three times”. A naked girl appeared from under a boxing ring and performed oral sex on Kelly and the witness.
Louis said he had returned to see Kelly because “I really wanted to make it in the music industry.”
According to USA Today, the witness, now 32, was testifying as part of a co-operation agreement he entered into earlier this year by which he hopes to avoid jail time of up to 15 years.
He had previously pleaded guilty to offering money to a potential witness against Kelly in an attempt to stop her co-operating with prosecutors. No charges were bought against Kelly in relation to that case.
Related: R. Kelly’s ex insinuates he might be “into boys” because he enjoys playing receiver in the bedroom
Another witness on Monday, a woman who used the name Addie, accused Kelly of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 following a concert in Miami in 1994. She said she’d been taken to Kelly’s dressing room, where he pulled down her shorts and made her have unprotected sex.
“I was in complete shock,” she said. “I didn’t know what to say at all. I basically went blank.”
Kelly’s defense attorneys have portrayed his accusers as groupies who are lying about their relationship with the singer.
If found guilty, Kelly faces ten years to life in prison. He is also facing other sex-related charges in Illinois and Minnesota. Like his current trial in New York, he has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
Donston
This is one of the reasons that I don’t overhype male celebrities admitting to some homo behaviors or obsess with the idea that these public figures need to publicly “come out” for the supposed betterment of “queers”. Too many of them are on some f-ed up shit, and a significant percentage just see people in general as props to indulge their fetishes and boost their egos.
From my understanding Kelley was sexually abused when younger. Instead of confronting the abuse, his insecurities, mental struggles, his potential fluidity or contradictions and where he was in the gender, sexual, romantic, affection, emotion, commitment spectrum, he likely just leaned into his own abusive and megalomaniac instincts and harmful paraphiliacs. While the money, success, being beloved and being accepted as an “appealing ‘straight’ ladies’ man” just made him feel as if he could get away with anything, no matter the number of people he did it to.
Openminded
Personally, I can never believe much any “witness” has to say when they are testifying as part of a sentencing deal. If this is the best “witness #1” they can come up with, I’m leaning towards innocent.
ShiningSex
If you don’t believe this, then you’re a special kind of stupid
Donston
You clearly haven’t been paying attention to these cases and the long saga of R. Kelley if you think he’s in the least bit “innocent”. There’s a video of him pissing on a 15 year old girl. He married a different 15 year old girl (Aaliyah) and had her fake her age in the marriage papers. The accusations and number of accusers have been astronomical at this point. A couple of people have spoken about Kelly grooming a few 16-17 year old young men. People apart of his team/entourage have talked about witnessing abuse, him coming on to minors, him promising to assist the the careers of minors in exchange of sexual favors or affections.
Caine
@ShiningSex They are lucky I am not on the jury cos I do not believe one word of this guy – first no way in the universe would R. Kelly be the person giving another man oral sex and second – this guy would say whatever the prosecutors want him to say if it means HE stays out of jail. In your own words, YOU are a special kind of stupid if you believe this BS testimony.
ScottOnEarth
LOL, ShiningSex – perfectly-stated 🙂
Fahd
Kelly seems to me to be an over-the-top sex addict who needs addiction treatment while and after he serves any potential sentence for alleged sex crimes, which seems likely given all the charges he’s facing. Seems probable that he has other addictions that have contributed to his acting out too.
As for the male witness who allegedly received oral sex from Kelly, I’ve watched enough crime TV to know that it would be perfectly reasonable for a juror to disregard his testimony as potentially fabricated in exchange for the deal with the prosecution.
Donston
It’s not just sexual addiction/hyper-sensitive sexuality. He clearly has a thing for minors and also gets off on manipulating, controlling people.
Fahd
@Donston
That’s why I said “Seems probable he has other addictions that have contributed to his acting out.” It’s all too over-the-top to be just a manipulative, controlling personality. He should be and probably will be brought to justice, but a chance at rehabilitation through treatment should be available, not just to him, but to anyone whose life has gotten out of control on account of addictionS.
Donston
You have had the tendency of being very nonchalant when folks are accused of horrible shit, especially they’re “queers.”
There are plenty of folks (especially in the entertainment industry) who are hyper-sexual, who contend with a lot of fluidity/contradictions/fetishes, who sexually engage with many different people. Propositioning minors, marrying a 15 year old, constantly using your power and money to get people to sexually engage with you, abusing people that you’re in a relationship with- these issues go beyond being extremely promiscuous. But of course, some therapy and investigation of his problems and instincts are necessary if he ever sees the light of day.
Fahd
@Donston
Please stop trying to pick fights. You’re wrong, I am not being nonchalant, but, even if I were being nonchalant, I can be as nonchalant as I want about whatever it is. Trying to undermine my comment by making a sweeping accusation is mean-spirited and just makes you look bad. I know you’re suffering but please stop trying to put a damper on everyone else’s day.
Also, there’s plenty of alcoholics and drug addicts who have committed a lot of offenses and who have ruined their own and many other lives. Of course people are responsible for their actions and actions have consequences. But addressing these addictions through encouraging and offering treatment even if it is during incarceration is the right thing to do. There shouldn’t be any “if he ever sees the light of day” about it.
And I guess I can’t stop you, but I would ask that you don’t reply to my comments. I won’t reply to yours in turn.
Caddy4J
The stories that have come from several women is frightening. I’ve just recently heard about under age males. I think the money & his promise to help them career wise thinking he was going to make them a star clouded their 17 yo brains, and would do anything that was asked of them by him even if they knew it was illegal. R. Kelly is a sick F_ _k!!!! I know we have due process here, but he is guilty without a reasonable doubt. It’s too bad he spent all his money on his sickness, “alleged bribes” and payoffs to keep people silent, and not advance his career. He hurt hundreds of people along his psychotic path, damaged young lives forever and lost everything still the end. SAD…
inbama
So Louis claims he got head from both Kelly and a woman, and neither episode gave him any pleasure.
Maybe he should see a urologist.
DarkZephyr
See, this is the kind of stuff that makes male victims of sexual assault not come forward as often as female victims do. Male victims are often not taken seriously or they are ridiculed for either A) not enjoying it or B) for being assaulted by another man or even a combination of both A and B.
Invader7
Kelly is a PREDATOR !!!!