Kelly has been charged with multiple sex crimes involving four women, three of whom were underage at the time of the alleged encounters. Among the issues covered in the investigatory program were allegations made by a former Kelly protege, Stephanie "Sparkle" Edwards. If convicted, Kelly would face the maximum of 195 years in prison. because you deserve it! When I learned that, I would go out of my way to speak to people just to tick him off. If you are in your 40's you have seen the video (whether you want to admit it or not). Her testimony sliced her family into factions, relegating her to years of . "You couldn't break the chain with us. But let me chill. But in 2001, when she actually witnessed the tape herself, she didn't hesitate to call. "You have no idea whether this was put together by someone trying to get money from Robert, do you?" She began her career in 1998 as a protg of fellow Chicago native R. Kelly. Sparkle: Directed by Salim Akil. Naked Pic of Serena Williams Goes Viral! I cant help he lies told on me & under oath at the.. & cause ya Momma mad at me cause yall were FORCED to testify.. [shrug emoji]. put a few things in context,. "We were thick as thieves," Sparkle said of the family's closeness before the meeting. Sparkle first started singing in her fa Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known by her stage name Sparkle is an American RB singer. The woman claimed that Kelly agreed to serve as her godfather and that her parents had given their blessing. She also spoke out in September 2021 after the singerwas convictedof nine counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges, and sentenced to 30 years behind bars. R. Kelly's former protg Stephanie Edwards, who recorded under the name Sparkle, also spoke on the verdict. According to reports, Sparkle was allegedly suggested by the niece. The girl I knew was always bubbly, but she seems like a robot in that video. MadameNoire Copyright 2023 BossipMadameNoire, LLC All Rights Reserved | BHM Digital, a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators. "Sir, it's Robert and [my niece] on the tape," she said during the emotional trial, according to MTV. And earlier this week, lawyer Michael Avenatti who gave a tape of Kelly and a young girl to the Cook County States Attorney in February said the singer gave the girl in the tape and her family $2 million to remain silent. "Sir, it's Robert and [my niece] on the tape," she said. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost. Sparkle claimed that her niece met Kelly when she was 12. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! A new development in the case has resulted from the Sparkles nieces recent admission of the truth. R. Kellys new case may end differently than his last. She said that his acquittal then affected her view of the #MeToo movement a decade later. Photo Credit: Gary Miller for Getty Images). Since the news of her niece's cooperation has been made public, Sparkle says she is thrilled. ", Genson then made a comment about the girl on the tape looking like a willing participant. Stephanie Edwards made a statement to the New York Times: | Follow on Twitter: @BridgetEE and IG: @Bridgetee26, Source: MadameNoire.com/iOne Digital / MadameNoire. Those who have been following the scandal were shocked to hear Sparkles testimony because she has long advocated for R. Kellys imprisonment for what he is accused of doing to her niece. There's no denying it. Fourteen witnesses had identified the girl in the video during the 20018 trial, but she and members of her family did not testify. Years ago, Kelly was accused of abusing Sparkles niece, but during Kellys current trial, the niece claimed that Sparkle encouraged the interactions. In 2002, Kelly re-entered Sparkle's life when a video that appeared to depict sex between Kelly and a 14-year-old came to the attention of police. Sparkle prayed for her niece to one day tell the truth and shame the devil and for them to be a family again. Its impact cannot be overstated and a month later, Kelly was facing new charges in Chicago. Singer Sparkle, who formerly recorded with Kelly, says Landfair is her niece. Vibe is a part of Penske Media Corporation. But after the meeting, "There was one side and another side," she said. People are trying to make money off my music and my name in a very, very negative way. Of course Im in full unwavering support of them and their act of courage!, Kim Kardashian Lands Olympic Partnership Deal, Shapewear Line To Be Worn By Team USA Athletes, She Tried It: Inahsi Naturals Aloe Hibiscus Leave-In Conditioner & Detangler, She Tried It: Ivy Park Drip 2 and 2.2 Black Pack, Prioritize Your Skincare With These Tips For Melanin-Rich Complexions, Burts Bees Skincare Works Harder, Not Harsher, 11 Black Celebrities Who Say They're Not African American, 'Bernie Mac Show' Stars Camille Winbush And Dee Dee Davis Get Chewed Out For Joining OnlyFans, 8 Famous Lesbian Women Who Were Married To Men. Career. In one of his few public comments on the issue, Kelly told Chicago radio station WGCI-FM in Chicago on April 4 that he couldn't comment on much of the scandal, per his attorney's advice. Now lets observe what transpires in the court. Prosecutors believe that there were many more girls, beyond the initially cited 12, who were victim to Kellys abuse. Sparkle was also the one to call her family members when she would find out that the niece was alone in the studio with him. Apple Music Film, TV & Stage. Last week in court R. Kelly's original case, Sparkles niece at 30 plus years took the stand to testify. On the stand, the woman, who is now 37 and identified as just Jane Doe, shared details of how she met Kelly and how they had sex hundreds of times, and he made videos of their encounters which sometimes also involved other minor girls. She attributed details of her nieces testimony to misguidance and the inability to think independently. 1 on iTunes. Singer R. Kelly leaves the Leighton Criminal Courts Building following a hearing on June 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. She pointed out that during this time period, she ran into Kelly at a family bowling event, and he gave her his number and invited her to come down to the studio, to illustrate that there was no bad blood between them, however much Genson tried to imply it. Sparkle replied with a strong denial. Kellys defense team had argued that the girl and Kelly could not be identified in the tape, and some jurors said the girls refusal to testify made it difficult to convict him. You may recall in the 2008 trial against Kelly, the girl in the tape along with her family members refused to testify against the singer. Absolutely NOT! Sparkle has long asserted that her niece was abused by Kelly. In 2002, Kelly re-entered Sparkle's life when a video that appeared to depict sex between Kelly and a 14-year-old came to the attention of police. Sparkle Net Worth: Sparkle is an American R&B singer who has a net worth of $600 thousand. Sparkle was horrified when she discovered that it was her niece at the center of Kelly's 2002 child pornography indictment. 5 Infamous Murder Cases Involving Athletes, Deadly Day for Rappers XXXTentacion and Wopo. According to The New York Times, the extent of this girls cooperation with authorities isnt clear, her lawyer, Christopher L. Brown spoke of her willingness to work with authorities days after Kelly was accused, in a federal indictment, of paying the girl and her father to lie to investigators to protect him. While the witness is addressed in court as Jane, her story included identifying details, including that she is Sparkles niece. But things have changed since 2008. As of now, Sparkles niece and her attorney have yet to respond to Sparkles claim she lied on the stand. What do you think about the matter? Meanwhile, Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, has come out in her own defence and claims that her niece has lied on the stand as she did not push her to be involved with Kelly. ET. Sparkle added that her niece, sister and brother-in-law all reported that nothing was going on, however. The woman who previously testified against Kelly in 2008 and was the one who brought the sex tapes to the victims parents knowledge says that she had the greatest of intentions when she spoke up against Kelly, but her life was made hell by the victims mother. Sparkle, real name Stephanie Edwards, also positively identified R. Kelly as the man on the tape engaging in illegal sex with her 13-year-old niece. I know them. Last week in court R. Kellys original case, Sparkles niece at 30 plus years took the stand to testify. The woman, who is now in her 30s and had been identified by singer Sparkle as her niece, had refused to testify against R. Kelly in his 2008 trial, which resulted in his acquittal. ", "No," she said. Kelly is now facing state and federal charges including sexual assault, obstruction of justice, child pornography, and racketeering. It's disgusting. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost her the relationship with her family. "Sparkle" featured a duet with Kelly, titled "Be Careful.". Singer Sparkle has refuted testimony made by a witness recognized as Jane in R. Kellys criminal trial, where he faces charges for child pornography. Whats The Deal With This R. Kelly Album That Dropped? The now 37-year-old woman who is identified only as "Jane," told jurors that she was first introduced to R. Kelly by her aunt Sparkle in the mid-1990s when she was 13 years old. R Kellys Sister Says Hes The Victim of Lies & Racism, C-Murder On A Hunger Strike Protesting Prison Conditions, Meet Kym Sellers Family First Storm Shyanne Sellers [VIDEO], Maryland Mayor Arrested On 56 Counts Of Child Pornography. The victim in the video did notcooperate with prosecutors in the original case, but finally agreed to workwith the government after Kelly was arrested in 2019. In another video she released, Sparkle claimed that the claim was an absolute f**king lie. She added she had indeed introduced Kelly to the victim and her mother and father, but it was not her intention for her to become involved with the singer. This ongoing R. Kelly trial has caused one of the disgraced singer's former artists to come forward to defend herself. Sound it in the comments. The video was of a man urinating on a little girl while she called him daddy. In our exclusive interview, she shared that the decision cost her the relationship with her family. I went at it alone. Please say its not you., Sparkle replied, Absolutely NOT! There's no denying it,' she says on the stand. Her family eventually began to allow her to visit with Kelly without an adult present. Earlier this week, the disgraced singer and his legal team appeared in a Chicago court, where Kelly faces several criminal charges. Sparkle did try and make up for her mistake, and I don't believe her niece in saying rub his head, I believe the niece is permanently damaged by Robert and her parents and her parents told her to say that to take the blame off of them. Sparkle talked about her niece working with the feds and said she couldnt be more thrilled about it. Modern Movie Musical Essentials. On Friday, Sparkle took to social media to denounce some of the claims made by her niece on the stand. In the recent federal indictment, he was accused of paying off the girl and her family so they would lie for him and not cooperate with investigators. Here's Where to Find the Best Corned Beef in Cleveland! "But there are others that haven't been spoken of that have been possibly paid off. R. Kelly was later acquitted of all charges. The Times reports, her lawyer says she is now cooperating with authorities. Her family would rather keep the matter quiet, she said, even if that means protecting an alleged predator. Trust me. Sparkle continued, This is another form of the terrible decision-making of her mom and in my opinion, the unfortunate continuing allegiance to Robert.. She eventually became a key witness in Kelly's 2008 child pornography case, claiming that the young girl in the video in question was her 14-year-old niece.
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