Fame as Bait: The Sex Trafficking Case of R. Kelly

By: Daphne

Trigger Warning: The following content includes topics that may be triggering. Reader discretion is advised.

“This case is not about a celebrity who likes to party a lot. This case is about a predator,” Maria Cruz Melendez, assistant US attorney, told the jury during the first day of the R. Kelly federal trial in New York. 

Everybody desires fame, one way or another. Everybody wants to be acknowledged, to be recognized, to be praised. Knowing this, Grammy winning R&B singer (and convicted sex offender), R. Kelly dangled fame in front of the eyes of his vulnerable victims – often young, teenage girls – and lured them into his sex-trafficking trap.

For over two decades, the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer Robert Kelly had faced allegations of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. But it wasn’t until September 2021, in a court in New York, that he was found guilty of eight counts of sex trafficking and one of racketeering. During the searing six-week trial, eleven accusers – nine women and two men – testified about his sexual humiliation and violence. Victims expressed that R. Kelly would exploit his superstar status, and lure them in exchange for promises of fame. 

Aaliyah was a famous singer, dancer, actress, and songwriter, who worked with R. Kelly. Kelly wrote and produced Aaliyah’s first album in 1994, ironically titled, “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number.” Perhaps the title may give way to what came next. On August 31, 1994, Kelly, then 27, illegally married 15 year old Aaliyah, in a secret ceremony. Aaliyah’s age on the identification was falsified to 18 years old. (Source)

In May 1997, Aaliyah requested that her marriage record be expunged because she was underage at the time. Lawyer Tiffany Hawkins filed a lawsuit against Kelly, but later accepted a settlement of $250,000 from Kelly (along with a confidentiality agreement), in 1998.

Surviving R. Kelly is a documentary that plays a critical role in serving as a platform for survivors to share their stories. Executive producer, filmmaker and music critic, Dream Hampton, admitted that many artists, although critical of R Kelly, refused to participate in the documentary. Musicians who did come forward, and made an appearance in the film include: Chance the Rapper, John Legend and Stephanie “Sparkle” Edwards. (Source)

If we dive deeper into R. Kelly’s childhood, interestingly enough, Kelly himself was a victim of sex abuse as a child, as stated in his autobiography, “Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me”. In the premiere episode of Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning, Jim DeRogatis, author of Soulless: the Case Against R. Kelly, had expressed empathy for what R. Kelly went through as a child, but stated, “Often the victim becomes the defender of other victims. Most often, and occasionally, the victim becomes a victimizer.” (Source)

Surviving R. Kelly incorporates a clip from a 2012 interview where Kelly refers to the sexual abuse as, “a generational curse.”

---

Future Unchained Toronto – a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading awareness, educating the public, and driving change to combat human trafficking – is currently working to partner with therapy clinics in order to provide support and resources to trafficking victims. Perhaps this is a crucial act in helping victims break the generational curse, prevent victims from reciprocating their trauma onto others, and ensure victims process their pain in a healthy, supportive environment with professional help so they don’t end up as victimizers themselves.