The R. Kelly Saga Continues with New Charges
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Embattled R&B singer R. Kelly is facing yet another slew of new charges and allegations that add to his questionable record going all the way back to the beginning of the millennium. For a quick recap, here are a few of the notable allegations that R. Kelly has faced over the years:

– 2000 – Chicago Sun-Times publishes a bombshell story on allegations that R. Kelly has had sex with underage women
– February 2002 – Chicago Sun-Times reporter Jim DeRogatis receives an anonymous tip in the form of a videotape of R. Kelly urinating on an underage woman
– May 2002 – R. Kelly indicted on 21 counts of child pornography, after the tape was handed over to the police.
– 2008 – By this time, R. Kelly has been acquitted of all child pornography charges. In this case, the woman in the tape refused to testify against Kelly.
– January 2019 – Lifetime airs the six-part documentary Surviving R. Kelly, which narrows in on each of Kelly’s alleged victims and their families
– February 2019 – Kelly is charged in Cook County, Illinois on 10 counts of sexual abuse
– May 2019 – Kelly is indicted on new charges of sexual abuse

In the past 6 months, R. Kelly has seen a renewal of interest into his history, including his secret marriage to R&B singer Aaliyah, who was 15 at the time that they wed. These most recent charges reference events alleged to have happened in 2009 and 2010, describing use of sex and oral sex with a minor, with R. Kelly threatening force against the woman. Mr. Kelly’s lawyer claims that these charges are not new, rather that they are a reformulation of the charges that have always been levied against him. These allegations are brought by Jerhonda Pace, a former fan of Kelly’s who used to watch for him when he was arriving to hearings for his first round of allegations. Kelly began to slowly recognize her more, before inviting her into his home and becoming more controlling over her over time.

Given that Kelly has been under intense scrutiny since the Lifetime documentary series aired in January, he has been dropped by his record label and continues to face inquires from prosecutors in Chicago and federal authorities. These new charges include 4 felonies, which together could sentence Kelly to up to 30 years in prison. All of this has also had a significant effect on the singer’s popularity, even as he has continued to headline shows across the United States. Notably, in September 2018, a scheduled stop at Madison Square Garden was cancelled, with his manager citing an incoming hurricane, although the data suggests that in the days leading up to the cancelation, ticket sales were very poor.

What will become of R. Kelly is not yet known, but the new allegations brought against him will add to his already extensive rap sheet. Although he won his first court battle, only time will tell if the singer will weather these fresh allegations.